In Arizona, a person has died from the bubonic plague, following warnings that the death of a grassland dog in the vicinity might signal a serious outbreak.
The individual passed away at Flagstaff Medical Center on the same day they arrived, exhibiting severe symptoms, according to Northern Arizona Healthcare’s statement. Specific details regarding the person’s identity and timing of death have not been disclosed.
Coconino County officials in northern Arizona are examining whether the recent deaths of prairie dogs in the region could be linked to this case. As noted by the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, prairie dogs are rodents that harbor fleas carrying Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for the plague.
Autopsy findings revealed that the victim was infected with the same strain of bacteria, according to various reports.
Health officials in Coconino County are collaborating with property owners who’ve reported rodent fatalities, aiming to collect fleas and conduct tests.
On average, rare diseases such as this lead to about seven deaths annually in the U.S., predominantly in remote western states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, as mentioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The plague was notably devastating in Europe during the 14th century.
This particular bacterium can result in three forms of plague: bubonic, which affects lymph nodes; septicemic, which impacts the bloodstream; and pneumonic, which targets the lungs.
In the U.S., cases of the plague typically emerge, with symptoms appearing within a week of infection, usually following a flea bite from an infected rodent.
The disease has a high survival rate—over 90%—if treated with antibiotics promptly, ideally within 24 hours of symptom onset. Without treatment, however, it can be lethal.
Signs of infection may include fever, chills, nausea, weakness, and swollen, painful lymph glands.
