Bubonic plague is characterized by painful swollen lymph nodes (buboes) while pneumonic plague affects the lungs, causing a severe cough that can lead to death if left untreated.
It can be transmitted to humans through fleas, direct contact with infected tissues or inhalation of contaminated respiratory droplets.
The bubonic plague is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis.
The first human case of bubonic plague in Oregon was confirmed on February 12th, 2024. The individual is likely infected by a domestic house cat and has become very sick.
The bubonic plague is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. It can be transmitted to humans through fleas, direct contact with infected tissues or inhalation of contaminated respiratory droplets. The disease has two main clinical forms: bubonic and pneumonic. Bubonic plague is characterized by painful swollen lymph nodes (buboes) while pneumonic plague affects the lungs, causing a severe cough that can lead to death if left untreated.
The first human case of bubonic plague in Oregon was confirmed on February 12th, 2024. The individual is likely infected by a domestic house cat and has become very sick. It's important for individuals who have been close to the patient or their pet to seek medical attention immediately.
The disease can be prevented through flea control measures such as using insect repellent, wearing long pants and shirts while outdoors, avoiding areas with high rodent populations and properly disposing of dead animals. It's also important for individuals who have been in close contact with an infected person or animal to seek medical attention immediately.
It is crucial to note that the bubonic plague can be fatal if left untreated, but modern antibiotics make it highly treatable and preventative measures such as flea control can help reduce the risk of transmission. It's important for individuals who have been in close contact with an infected person or animal to seek medical attention immediately.
, The individual was likely infected by a domestic house cat.
The patient who contracted the plague from their pet became very sick.
Accuracy
The individual was likely infected by a domestic house cat.
Cats are common carriers of disease due to their close interaction with humans and hunting infested rodents.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that a human case of bubonic plague has been confirmed and that it was likely caused by a pet cat. However, there are no direct quotes from any experts or health officials to support this claim. Secondly, the article states that all close contacts have been contacted and provided medication to prevent illness. This is not true as there is no mention of how many people were in contact with the infected person or if they received treatment. Thirdly, the article mentions that bubonic plague symptoms usually begin two to eight days after exposure but does not provide any information on when the infected person was exposed or if they had been showing symptoms before being treated. Lastly, there is no mention of how many cases have been reported in Deschutes County since 2015 and what measures are being taken by health officials to prevent further spread.
The article claims that a human case of bubonic plague has been confirmed but does not provide any direct quotes from experts or health officials to support this claim.
The article states that all close contacts have been contacted and provided medication to prevent illness, however there is no mention of how many people were in contact with the infected person or if they received treatment.
The article mentions that bubonic plague symptoms usually begin two to eight days after exposure but does not provide any information on when the infected person was exposed or if they had been showing symptoms before being treated.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an example of a false dilemma fallacy. The author presents the idea that there are only two options for how the infected person was exposed to plague: either they were bitten by an infected flea or came into contact with a sick animal. However, this is not true as it does not take into account other potential sources of exposure such as contaminated food or water.
The disease spreads to humans or animals through a bite from an infected flea or by contact with a sick animal.
, Cats can carry dozens of diseases that can be passed on to humans, including Alaskapox and the Bubonic plague.
Some diseases in cats can progress without symptoms or seem unconcerning to pet owners, allowing them to repeatedly expose themselves to it.
Feral and domestic cats both carry disease, but dogs are less susceptible due to inherent resistance.
Accuracy
Cats are common carriers of disease due to their close interaction with humans and hunting infested rodents.
<b>Contradiction:</b> Cats' feces may contain bacteria and parasites that humans come into contact with while changing their litter box.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in that it implies that cats are the only animals capable of spreading deadly diseases to humans. While cats can carry many diseases and have been known to spread them, they are not the only ones capable of doing so. The article also states that dogs cannot be a source for plague because they are inherently resistant to the bacteria that causes it, which is incorrect.
The first sentence in the article implies that cats are responsible for spreading deadly diseases to humans: 'Cats make the perfect pets - they're low maintenance and independent.'
The second paragraph states that public health officials have revealed a person died from Alaskapox, which was caught from a cat. However, it does not mention if this is the only case of transmission.
The third paragraph mentions an Oregon resident who was hospitalized with bubonic plague but does not provide any information on how they contracted the disease.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing Dr Paola Cuevas as a veterinary consultant at Catster without providing any context or qualifications for her expertise. Additionally, the author makes a false dichotomy between cats and dogs being more susceptible to disease when in fact both animals can carry diseases that are harmful to humans. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by stating that cats make people sick and implying that they should not be kept as pets.
Dr Paola Cuevas, veterinary consultant at Catster
Cats make the perfect pets - they're low maintenance and independent.
The patients had caught the disease from a cat.
Bias
(75%)
The article presents a biased perspective by focusing on the negative aspects of cats and their potential to carry deadly diseases. The author uses sensational language such as 'deadly' and 'extremely rare' to create fear in readers. Additionally, the author only provides examples of two specific cases where cats were found to have contracted these diseases, while not mentioning any instances where cats did not transmit disease or how common it is for humans to contract these illnesses from other sources.
Cats make the perfect pets - they're low maintenance and independent.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the potential for cats to carry and spread deadly diseases such as Alaskapox and Bubonic plague. The author is Alexa Lardieri U.S., who has a financial stake in the pet industry through her work with Catster.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of cats as carriers of disease. The article mentions that Dr Paola Cuevas is an expert in this field and works for Catster, which could compromise her objectivity.
Oregon has confirmed its first case of bubonic plague in eight years and officials say it probably came from a domestic cat that also showed symptoms.
The patient who contracted the plague from their pet became very sick. Usually, an infection starts with flu-like symptoms including fatigue, fever, chills, and headache.
In Oregon's recent case of bubonic plague infection in 2015 a girl was infected during a hunting trip and ended up in intensive care.
Accuracy
The bubonic plague might sound like an affliction of the past, but the bacterium behind the disease is still out there, causing thousands of human infections worldwide.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that bubonic plague is a rare occurrence in the US when it has been reported on average seven times per year for decades. Secondly, they claim that modern antibiotics mean that the bubonic plague no longer has to be a death sentence when there have been deaths from this disease recently. Thirdly, they state that Yersinia pestis usually infects small mammals and fleas but fail to mention other animals such as birds or reptiles which can also carry the bacteria. Lastly, the author claims that bubonic plague is not an international killer anymore when it has caused hundreds of deaths in recent outbreaks.
The author claims that bubonic plague is not an international killer anymore when it has caused hundreds of deaths in recent outbreaks.
The article states that bubonic plague is a rare occurrence in the US but fails to mention that it has been reported on average seven times per year for decades.
The article states that Yersinia pestis usually infects small mammals and fleas but fails to mention other animals such as birds or reptiles which can also carry the bacteria.
The author claims that modern antibiotics mean that the bubonic plague no longer has to be a death sentence when there have been deaths from this disease recently.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the bubonic plague is still out there causing thousands of human infections worldwide and that cases in the US are relatively rare. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence or data provided in the article. Additionally, when discussing how the infection spread from a cat to its owner, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that it was likely due to infected fleas or contaminated fluids of the cat's own. This language creates an emotional response rather than providing evidence for their claim.
The bubonic plague might sound like an affliction of the past, but the bacterium behind the disease is still out there causing thousands of human infections worldwide, year after year.
Bias
(70%)
The article contains a few examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the bubonic plague by referring to it as an 'affliction of the past' and saying that cases in the US are relatively rare. This implies that people who contract this disease deserve sympathy or pity, which is not accurate given its potential for serious illness and death if left untreated. Additionally, when discussing how the infection spread from a cat to a human, the author uses language like 'exposing' and 'contaminated fluids', implying that humans are victims of nature rather than responsible actors in their own health outcomes. This is not an accurate portrayal of disease transmission and can contribute to stigmatization or blame-shifting.
"bubo"
The bubonic plague might sound like an affliction of the past, but the bacterium behind the disease is still out there
the patient in Oregon became very sick.
usually, an infection of this kind starts with flu-like symptoms
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses a rare case of bubonic plague in Oregon and the potential for it to spread. The author has financial ties with ScienceAlert as they are an employee.
.
bubonic plague
Yersinia pestis
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of bubonic plague as they mention that it is rare and can progress to open sores. They also mention that most cases occur in rural areas which could be seen as biased.
. Bubonic plague is the most common form and involves the lymphatic system, causing swollen and painful lymph nodes that can advance to open, pus-filled sores.
. Most cases in the US occur in rural areas of the midwest and northwest, with about seven cases reported on average each year.
People infected with Y. pestis often develop symptoms after an incubation period of one to seven days.
There are two main clinical forms of plague infection: bubonic and pneumonic.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that plague is a very severe disease in people with a case-fatality ratio of 30% to 100%, but then goes on to say that untreated pneumonic plague can be fatal within 24 hours if not diagnosed and treated early. This contradicts the earlier statement, as it implies that untreated bubonic plague is also deadly with a case-fatality ratio of up to 60%. Secondly, the article states that human to human transmission of bubonic plague is rare but does not mention anything about pneumonic plague. This creates confusion and suggests that there are two different types of infection when in fact they are both forms of the same disease with varying severity levels. Lastly, the article mentions historical pandemics caused by the Black Death but fails to provide any context or information on how it was transmitted or what measures were taken during those times.
Historical pandemics caused by the Black Death are briefly mentioned without any context or information on how it was transmitted
Human to human transmission of bubonic plague is rare but not mentioned about pneumonic plague
The case-fatality ratio for untreated bubonic plague is up to 60%
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the World Health Organization (WHO) is a reliable source of information on plague. However, this does not necessarily mean that everything stated in the article is true or accurate.
The WHO states that bubonic plague can advance and spread to the lungs, which is more severe than pneumonic plague.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the topic of plague and its potential dangers. The author uses language that dehumanizes those infected with the disease, such as referring to bubonic plague as a 'bubo' which sounds like it could be an insult or derogatory term. Additionally, there are several instances where the article mentions historical pandemics caused by plague and their high mortality rates without providing any context for why these events occurred in the past.
The bubonic form of plague is invariably fatal unless treated early.
