Public Health

• A person in Northern Arizona has died from the plague, confirmed by health officials after an autopsy revealed the presence of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague. The victim was taken to hospital with severe symptoms and died the same day.
• This fatality occurred amid a significant die-off of prairie dogs near Flagstaff, prompting Coconino County officials to investigate the link and collect fleas for testing.
• Plague remains rare in modern America, with an average of seven human cases annually, primarily affecting rural areas of the Western U.S.
• Symptoms include fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes, but prompt antibiotic treatment, ideally within 24 hours, offers a high survival rate for bubonic plague.
• Public health officials urge residents to report sick or dead rodents, use flea control on pets, and seek immediate medical care if symptoms develop after potential exposure.