Context:

A resident of Coconino County, Arizona, recently died from pneumonic plague, marking the first such death in the county since 2007. The individual was treated at Flagstaff Medical Center, where rapid diagnostic testing confirmed infection with Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for the plague. Despite efforts to save the patient's life, they succumbed to the disease on the same day of hospitalization. Historically, plague has been a rare occurrence in the United States, with an average of seven human cases reported annually, and it is primarily transmitted through bites from infected rodent fleas or handling infected animals. While the risk to the public remains low, the disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics if diagnosed and treated promptly, though human-to-human transmission is exceedingly rare.

Dive Deeper:

• The recent death in Coconino County due to pneumonic plague is the first in almost two decades, highlighting the rarity of such cases in the region despite the natural occurrence of the disease in the western United States.

• The patient, who died at Flagstaff Medical Center, was confirmed to be infected with Yersinia pestis through rapid diagnostic testing, which causes severe lung infections characteristic of pneumonic plague.

• Plague, known historically for causing the Black Death in Europe, is now rare, with about seven human cases reported annually in the U.S., and usually transmitted via infected rodent fleas or contact with infected animals.

• Symptoms of pneumonic plague include fever, headache, and rapidly developing pneumonia, necessitating quick administration of antibiotics for effective treatment, which significantly reduces mortality risk.

• Human-to-human transmission of the plague is extremely rare, with the last recorded instance occurring in 1924 in Los Angeles, underscoring the low risk of contagion among the general population.

• Plague is one of several diseases endemic to the southwestern U.S., alongside others like West Nile virus, hantavirus, and rabies, reflecting the region's unique ecosystem and wildlife interactions.

• The recent plague case in Arizona follows historical patterns where the disease circulates among rodent populations, with previous cases linked to contact with infected animals, emphasizing the importance of wildlife management in preventing outbreaks.