September 2, 2022 |
Laboratory testing has confirmed a rural Albany County cat died of plague, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.
According to a release from the WDH, the cat lived primarily outdoors or in outbuildings in the Laramie area. Other cats in a group at the same location have also died during the past several months, indicating likely spread of plague.
Plague is a serious bacterial infection that can be deadly for pets and people if not treated as soon as possible with antibiotic. Although rare, the disease can be passed to humans from infected animals. It can also spread through fleas coming from infected dogs or cats.
The WDH recommends using flea control products on indoor/outdoor pets. Wear gloves and a mask when handling a potentially infected animal to avoid any bacteria.
Signs of infection are the same in animals and humans: enlarged lymph glands, swelling in the neck, lack of energy or exhaustion, chills, coughing, abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms.
