A 73-year-old Oregon man presented with cellulitis, lymphangitis, and lymphadenitis after cutting his finger and having contact with his sick cat in January 2024. The cat had a neck abscess and later died. Blood cultures from the man identified Yersinia pestis, confirmed by PCR and bacteriophage-lysis testing. The cat's tissues also confirmed Y. pestis. The patient recovered after antibiotic treatment. This case represents the earliest recorded human plague in Oregon's history, suggesting a potential shift in seasonality.
Key note: Clinicians and veterinarians should maintain a high index of suspicion for Y. pestis infection year-round in endemic areas, especially with animal exposure.