A MAN recently died of a contagious disease that wiped out a large percentage of the population during the medieval era.
The news has surprised many, with the man believed to have caught the disease from his cat.
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The first case was recorded in February, in Oregon, with the man showing the symptoms of the bubonic plague.
Another case occurred in New Mexico this week, reports Ruidoso News.
The bubonic plague is one of the most famous diseases of all time, responsible for killing millions of people during the Medieval Era.
It's estimated that the plague wiped out a third of the population in Europe.
Some of the warning signs of the disease include fever, chills, headaches, and weakness.
Another warning sign is the swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpits and the groin.
To avoid the disease, be sure to steer clear of sick or dead rodents, including their nests.
Be mindful of your pets' health, especially if you suspect they've interacted with rodents recently.
Even though the news is alarming, health experts claim there's no cause for concern.
“It's not unusual to have an isolated case of bubonic plague,” said Dr. Robert Bollinger to USA TODAY.
“It's serious when it happens, but it's treatable if you catch it early enough.”
Regarding the man who died in Oregon, health authorities claim that his family and his pets were treated.
There are usually around 10 or more cases of bubonic plague in the country every year.
“That's been pretty consistent for many, many decades,” said Bollinger.
Even though the plague was incredibly dangerous in the medieval era, nowadays, it's a highly treatable condition.
“It's transmitted through fleas or contacts from an infected animal to a human,” explained Bollinger.
In the medieval era, people had a lot of contact with rodents, a problem that's less common nowadays.
“There's lots of antibiotics that work really well. If you start early enough, it's very treatable,” concluded Bollinger.
