A Northern Arizona resident has died after contracting pneumonic plague, a severe and rare form of the disease caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria. According to public health officials, the patient died on July 11 at Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Department.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that plague is rare but can occur in rural parts of the western US, as well as certain regions in Africa and Asia. The Arizona Department of Health Services has confirmed a presumptive diagnosis of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for the plague.
Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease, occurring when someone inhales infectious droplets from another person or animal with pneumonic plague. It is spread among wild rodents and other animals, usually through flea bites or direct contact with infected animals.
Symptoms typically appear within one to eight days after exposure, including fever, headache, chills, weakness, and pneumonia. To avoid contracting the disease, health officials recommend avoiding wild animals, using veterinarian-approved flea treatments on pets, removing debris from around homes and outbuildings, and avoiding campsites next to rodent burrows.
According to Coconino County Health and Human Services, there are an average of seven human plague cases reported each year in the US. The risk to the public remains low, but it is essential to take precautions to prevent exposure.
This marks the first recorded death from pneumonic plague in Coconino County since 2007. Public health officials have urged caution and reminded residents of the importance of proper hygiene and flea control measures.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/07/11/arizona-pneumonic-plague-death-what-to-know/84597349007