Primary plague pneumonia contracted from a domestic cat at South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Primary plague pneumonia occurred in a 47-year-old South Lake Tahoe woman shortly after face-to-face exposure to her plague pneumonia-infected cat. Both died. Field investigation revealed a recent plague epizootic in squirrels and chipmunks around the patient's home. Control measures included active surveillance and chemoprophylaxis of 197 contacts to the victim, a community alert on methods of self- and pet protection, and application of insecticide to reduce rodent flea populations. No secondary cases occurred.
D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000302:isolation & purification