A recent death in northern Arizona has confirmed pneumonic plague, a severe lung infection caused by Yersinia pestis, in a person. This case is a reminder of the disease’s lingering presence in parts of the world, including the US.
Human infections with plague are relatively rare in the country, averaging seven cases annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacterium has become endemic to rats and rodents in western states since its arrival in port cities around 1900.
Experts stress that while the disease is serious, it’s extremely rare. “It’s more important to prioritize public health by wearing seatbelts than worrying about plague,” says David Wagner, executive director of the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute at Northern Arizona University, who has studied the disease for over 25 years.
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pneumonic-plague-infections-in-modern-times-show-the-black-death-isnt-dead