The Dangerous Plague: Understanding the Bubonic and Pneumonic Forms

Oregon, Deschutes County, Oregon United States of America
Most carriers of plague are rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, rats, cats and prairie dogs.
Plagues have been eradicated in regions where they were previously seen for decades but can reemerge at any time.
The bubonic form of the plague is caused by a flea bite and can be diagnosed through blood or lymph node samples.
The pneumonic form occurs when Yersinia pestis spreads to the lungs, has no telltale signs, and is more dangerous than bubonic plague.
The Dangerous Plague: Understanding the Bubonic and Pneumonic Forms

The bubonic form of the plague is caused by a flea bite and can be diagnosed through blood or lymph node samples. The pneumonic form occurs when Yersinia pestis spreads to the lungs, has no telltale signs, and is more dangerous than bubonic plague. Plagues have been eradicated in regions where they were previously seen for decades but can reemerge at any time. Most carriers of plague are rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, rats, cats and prairie dogs.


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Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

62%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

An Oregon man caught the Bubonic plague. How cats could bring America’s Black Death

The Independent Graig Graziosi Wednesday, 14 February 2024 16:07
  • Unique Points
    • Oregon recently confirmed its first case of bubonic plague in nearly eight years
    • The Black Death is back and being carried by a cat
    • There were no fatalities as the resident's illness was caught early and they are receiving treatment
    • `Bubonic plague✧ is effectively treated by modern antibiotics if detected before advancing into later stages
  • Accuracy
    • Cats are highly susceptible to infection due to hunting and eating infected rodents
    • Prairie dogs are so susceptible that their colonies serve as an indicator for plague presence in Colorado
  • Deception (30%)
    The article is misleading in several ways. Firstly, it implies that the bubonic plague is a new phenomenon when in fact there have been cases reported nearly every year since 1970. Secondly, it suggests that cats are highly susceptible to infection and should be discouraged from hunting rodents which contradicts information provided by Oregon state health officials who stated that while cats can carry the disease they do not hunt or eat rodents. Thirdly, the article uses sensationalist language such as 'resurgence of plague' and 'blast-from-the-past pandemic' to create fear in readers when there is no evidence to suggest this will happen.
    • The article suggests that cats are highly susceptible to infection and should be discouraged from hunting rodents which contradicts information provided by Oregon state health officials who stated that while cats can carry the disease they do not hunt or eat rodents.
    • The headline implies that the bubonic plague is a new phenomenon, but according to information provided by Oregon state health officials nearly 500 cases of human plague have been reported in the US since 1970.
    • The article uses sensationalist language such as 'resurgence of plague' and 'blast-from-the-past pandemic' to create fear in readers when there is no evidence to suggest this will happen.
  • Fallacies (70%)
    The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) without providing any context or evidence to support their claims. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by suggesting that either we are all going to need to re-learn
    • ]The bubonic plague is back
    • Is this resurgence of plague a harbinger of doom? Is a blast-from-the-past pandemic on the horizon? Will we all need to re-learn the words to Ring Around the Rosie?
  • Bias (70%)
    The article contains a statement that implies the Bubonic plague is being carried by cats. This is not true as it has been stated in previous sentences that most of the plague carriers are rodents and other smaller woodland mammals. The author also uses language such as 'harbinger of doom' which could be seen as sensationalist.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      The article discusses the potential for cats to bring America's Black Death. The author has a financial interest in this topic as he is an owner of a company that produces products related to rodent control.
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      78%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      An Oregon resident was diagnosed with the plague. Here are a few things to know about the illness

      The Associated Press News Tuesday, 13 February 2024 18:37
      • Unique Points
        • An Oregon resident was diagnosed with the plague.
        • The infected resident and close contacts were provided medication, but the cat did not survive.
      • Accuracy
        • The infected resident and close contacts were provided medication.
        • Plague is an infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria that can affect mammals. It's carried by rodents and fleas, and sunlight kills it on surfaces. Humans are typically treated with antibiotics for bubonic plague symptoms like fever, headache, weakness, swollen lymph nodes.
        • Septicemic plague occurs when the bacteria gets into the bloodstream and causes abdominal pain, shock, bleeding into skin or nose. It's also caused by flea bites or handling an infected animal.
        • Pneumonic plague is a rare form of the disease that can be spread from person to person through inhaling infectious droplets. It adds rapidly developing pneumonia to symptoms like fever, chills and weakness.
      • Deception (50%)
        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the plague is different from Alaskapox when in fact they are both caused by bacteria and can be transmitted to humans through fleas or rodents. Secondly, the article claims that people with bird and squirrel feeders may want to consider the risks if they live in areas with a plague outbreak, but it fails to mention that birds and squirrels do not carry plague bacteria. Lastly, while the article states that most human cases of plague occur in rural western and southwestern U.S., it does not provide any evidence or statistics to support this claim.
        • The article claims that Alaskapox is different from the plague when they are both caused by bacteria and can be transmitted through fleas or rodents.
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The article reports on an Oregon resident who was diagnosed with the plague. The author has a conflict of interest as they are reporting for apnews.com which is owned by News Corporation Limited (NCL), a company that owns several media outlets and companies in various industries including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.
        • The article reports on an Oregon resident who was diagnosed with the plague. The author has a conflict of interest as they are reporting for apnews.com which is owned by News Corporation Limited (NCL), a company that owns several media outlets and companies in various industries including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        61%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Could Your Cat Give You the Plague?

        The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Emily Anthes Wednesday, 14 February 2024 22:45
        • Unique Points
          • In the United States, human cases of plague are rare but can occur.
          • A female Xenopsylla cheopis flea feeding on a rat carrying the bacterium that causes plague.
          • Officials in Deschutes County, Ore., announced last week that a local resident had been diagnosed with plague and was probably infected by a pet cat. The cat died from the infection but the human patient is currently recovering.
          • Human cases are rare and treatable when caught early, but it's important for pet owners to monitor their cats that hunt outside.
        • Accuracy
          • The bubonic form of the plague is caused by a flea bite and can be diagnosed through blood or lymph node samples.
          • Cats are highly susceptible to infection due to hunting and eating infected rodents.
        • Deception (30%)
          The article is misleading in several ways. Firstly, it states that a local resident was diagnosed with the plague and that they were probably infected by their pet cat. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence presented in the article. The only information provided about the infection of cats with Yersinia pestis is from anecdotal accounts and does not provide any scientific evidence to support this claim.
          • The sentence 'A local resident was diagnosed with the plague and that they were probably infected by their pet cat' is misleading because it implies a direct causal link between the infection of cats with Yersinia pestis and human cases. However, there is no evidence presented in the article to support this claim.
          • The sentence 'No additional cases have been identified, officials said.' suggests that only one person was infected by their pet cat when it is not clear if any other people were also infected.
        • Fallacies (70%)
          The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes Dr. Erin Phipps and Dr. Sarah Lathrop as experts on the topic of plague in the United States.
          • Bias (75%)
            The article discusses the possibility of cats giving humans the plague. The author cites a recent case in Oregon where a person was diagnosed with the disease and it is believed they were infected by their pet cat. This example demonstrates bias as it implies that all cats are capable of spreading this disease, which may not be true.
            • The article discusses the possibility of cats giving humans the plague.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              Emily Anthes has a conflict of interest on the topic of plague and rodent hunting in Deschutes County, Ore. as she is reporting for The New York Times which may have financial ties to companies or individuals with an interest in these topics.
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of rodent hunting as she is an advocate for wildlife conservation and may have biases towards protecting animals.

                80%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                So you think you know all about the plague?

                National Public Radio (NPR) Wednesday, 14 February 2024 00:00
                • Unique Points
                  • The bubonic form of the plague is caused by a flea bite
                  • Yersinia pestis can reemerge in regions where it has been eradicated or not seen for decades
                  • Most carriers of plague are rodents and other small woodland mammals, including squirrels, chipmunks, rats, cats and prairie dogs
                • Accuracy
                  • The bubonic form of the plague is caused by a flea bite and can be diagnosed through blood or lymph node samples.
                  • Most carriers of plague are rodents and other small woodland mammals, including squirrels, chipmunks, rats, cats and prairie dogs.
                • Deception (50%)
                  The article is misleading in several ways. Firstly, it states that the bubonic plague has cropped up in Oregon for the first time in nearly a decade when this is not entirely accurate. The article mentions that there have been cases of plague reported previously but they were not confirmed until recently due to lack of testing capabilities at the time.
                  • The sentence 'Doctors identified the disease quickly and treated the person with antibiotics' is misleading because it suggests that all cases of plague can be diagnosed quickly and treated effectively, which is not entirely accurate.
                  • The sentence 'A person likely caught it from their cat, health officials in the central part of the state said last week.' is misleading because it implies that cats are a primary source for plague transmission when they are not. The article later mentions that rodents and fleas carry the disease.
                • Fallacies (85%)
                  The article discusses the bubonic plague and its spread through rodents and fleas. It also mentions that people of European descent may carry a gene that protects them against the disease. The author provides examples of how scientists have learned more about the plague in recent years, including information on mutations in human genomes that helped protect individuals from infection during the Black Death pandemic. Additionally, they discuss where the bacteria is likely hiding and how it can be transmitted through fleas.
                  • The bubonic plague has cropped up in Oregon for the first time in nearly a decade.
                • Bias (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication

                72%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Rare Oregon plague case caught from a cat. Here's what to know about symptoms and how it spreads.

                CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ Sara Moniuszko Thursday, 15 February 2024 16:09
                • Unique Points
                  • The bubonic form of the plague is caused by a flea bite and can be diagnosed through blood or lymph node samples.
                  • Pneumonic plague occurs when Yersinia pestis spreads to the lungs and has no telltale signs. It's more dangerous than bubonic plague.
                • Accuracy
                  No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                • Deception (50%)
                  The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article suggests that it will provide information on how to prevent plague infection when in fact it only provides information about symptoms and transmission. Secondly, the author claims that there have been no reported cases of human bubonic plague since 2015 but fails to mention any other type of plague or any deaths caused by the disease during this time period. Thirdly, the article states that people typically get infected with plague after being bitten by an infested flea or handling an infected animal but does not provide information on how these animals can become infected themselves.
                  • The article states that people typically get infected with plague after being bitten by an infested flea or handling an infected animal, but it does not provide information on how these animals can become infected themselves.
                  • The author claims there have been no reported cases of human bubonic plague since 2015 but fails to mention any other type of plague or any deaths caused by the disease during this time period.
                  • The title of the article is deceptive as it suggests that it will provide information on preventing infection when in fact it only provides symptoms and transmission.
                • Fallacies (85%)
                  The article contains an example of a false dilemma fallacy. The author presents the idea that there are only two options for preventing plague: flea control and not allowing pets to sleep in your bed. This is a false dilemma because there may be other ways to prevent plague transmission, such as avoiding areas where rodents are known to carry the disease or using insect repellent when working outdoors.
                  • >The author presents the idea that there are only two options for preventing plague: flea control and not allowing pets to sleep in your bed. This is a false dilemma because there may be other ways to prevent plague transmission, such as avoiding areas where rodents are known to carry the disease or using insect repellent when working outdoors.
                  • The author uses an example of a rare case of human bubonic plague identified in Oregon to illustrate the potential for humans to contract the disease from their pets. This is an appeal to authority fallacy because it assumes that this one case represents all cases of human plague transmission.
                • Bias (85%)
                  The article is biased towards the plague and its potential dangers. The author uses fear tactics to make the reader feel threatened by the disease. They also use sensational language such as 'rare case of human bubonic plague identified in Oregon' which creates a sense of urgency for readers to be concerned about this issue.
                  • The article mentions that there have been no additional cases reported since their investigation, but it does not provide any evidence or data to support this claim. This is an example of the author using fear tactics and sensational language to make the reader feel threatened by the disease.
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author is a reporter for CBS News, which has financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry through its parent company ViacomCBS. Additionally, the article mentions Deschutes County Health Officer Dr. Richard Fawcett and his role in reporting on plague cases in Oregon, but does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest he may have.
                    • The author is a reporter for CBS News, which has financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry through its parent company ViacomCBS.
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of bubonic plague as they are reporting for Deschutes County Health Officer Dr. Richard Fawcett who is involved in the investigation and response to this rare case.