Arizona Resident Dies From Pneumonic Plague

A resident of northern Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, local health officials announced, marking the first such death in the area in nearly two decades. Plague remains rare in humans, though public health agencies stay vigilant.

Rare but Deadly Infection

Health officials in Coconino County, which includes Flagstaff, reported that the death was the first from pneumonic plague since 2007. Specifics, such as the victim’s identity, have not been disclosed.

Plague Basics

Plague is caused by a bacterial infection and is infamous for wiping out a large percentage of Europe’s population in the 14th century. Today, it can be readily treated with antibiotics if caught in time. According to the World Health Organization, untreated pneumonic plague is invariably fatal.

Transmission and Forms

The bubonic plague represents the most prevalent form of this infection. It spreads through rodents like prairie dogs and rats. Besides bubonic, the other forms include septicemic plague, which affects the entire body, and pneumonic plague, which targets the lungs.

Pneumonic plague is particularly dangerous because it is both highly lethal and easily transmissible. The bacteria spreads via infected flea bites, moving from rodents to pets and humans. It can also spread through contact with infected bodily fluids; experts advise care around sick or dead animals.

Geographic Risk Zones

Most plague cases occur in rural parts of the western United States, including northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.