A man from Prineville, Oregon, has been diagnosed with bubonic plague, the very same catastrophic disease that erased around one-third of Europe’s entire population in the 14th century.

The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reportedly bitten by a stray cat when he was trying to save a mouse caught by the cat.

The cat has already died and is being analyzed by researchers.

Bubonic plague is an infection of the lymph nodes. It can be caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis. Rodents like rats carry this disease, and it is spread via their fleas.

When a flea carrying the plague bacteria from an infected rodent bites an individual, he/she gets this disastrous disease. In rare cases, pan individual can get plague when handling an infected animal.

Pneumonic plague, a sort of plague lung infection, can spread from human to human.

Plague is notorious for killing millions of people in 14th century Europe. Today, it is rare in America and Western countries, but is still found in African, South American and Asian countries.

Modern antibiotics are an effective cure for different sorts of plague.