Arizona resident dies from pneumonic plague
A resident from Coconino County in Arizona died from pneumonic plague, the first recorded death from the disease in the country since 2007.
BBC, citing the country's Coconino County Health and Human Services, reported that the person had an interaction with a dead animal infected with the disease.
"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased," Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chair Patrice Horstman said in a statement. "We are keeping them in our thoughts during this difficult time. Out of respect for the family, no additional information about the death will be released."
According to the United States Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the plague is a disease that affects humans and other mammals caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis.
Humans typically contract the plague through the bite of an infected flea from a rodent or by coming into contact with an infected animal.
While the disease can be treated with antibiotics, early administration is crucial to avoid severe illness or death.
There are different forms of plague, including the septicemic plague and the bubonic plague, which became a pandemic dubbed the Black Death in the 14th century that killed half of Europe's 50 million population at that time.
The pneumonic plague, however, is considered the most serious form of the disease and is the only plague that can be spread from person to person.
Per the CDC, symptoms of the plague include fever, headache, and fatigue. For pneumonic plague, it includes shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery mucus.
There are about seven human plague cases reported in the US annually, it added.
The Coconino County government noted the risk to public of exposure remains low.
The United Kingdom government also said the plague is no longer found in the country, and the probability of a case occurring in a person is "very low."
The UK government advised prevention measures that include spraying a DEET-based insect repellent to protect against flea bites; avoiding contact with dead animals, infected tissues, or materials; avoiding close contact with symptomatic patients; and avoiding crowded areas where cases have been recently reported.
