Yep- it’s nasty stuff- and like you mentioned, these shifts in hosts can have devastating effects- I didn’t realize there was the systemic plague as well- that’s pretty nasty-
The fella who died after skinning that bobcat in the NY article I believe threw the skin the back seat of his car, a friend borrowed the car, and ended up either sick or dying as well if I recall right- although that NY article didn’t mention that part- seems as though UI recall having read that a few years ago- Being a trapper at the time, I was a bit taken aback by the story-
Then there’s hunta virus- which is different, but can be just as deadly- that is in urine of mice though- mostly out west, but even out east a few cases of people dying from it
It’s kinda frightening the things that are lurking in the wilds, and even in our own homes- plagues, viruses, lyme disease, (several tick bourne diseases), west nile virus, chagas disease, on and on and on it goes- it’s amazing that these things don’t just wipe everyone out-
That bobcat skin may have had infected fleas which went to the nearest warm body, the guy who borrowed the car, and perhaps the original hunter. Have you heard about the latest threat? Zika virus that gives pregnant women babies with shrunken brains—microcephaly. It may be coming to a southern state near you where it is mosquito borne.