A resident of Coconino County, Arizona, has died from pneumonic plague, marking the first such case in the area in almost 20 years. Local officials confirmed that the individual who succumbed to the disease lived in the region, which includes the city of Flagstaff, and that the last recorded death in the county occurred in 2007. This development has raised concerns among public health authorities about the potential resurgence of the disease in the region.
Pneumonic plague, which affects the lungs, is the deadliest form of the illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the disease is most commonly found in rural areas of the western United States, including northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon, and western Nevada. While the majority of cases are concentrated in these areas, the disease is also endemic in parts of Africa. Fortunately, pneumonic plague is treatable with antibiotics, which have significantly reduced its mortality rate compared to historical outbreaks.
Public health officials have emphasized that the plague can be transmitted through flea bites from infected rodents, contact with an infected animal, or even through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs. The Arizona Department of Health Services has not yet provided further comment on the case, but the incident underscores the importance of monitoring and preventing the spread of this rare but dangerous illness. With only about seven cases reported in the U.S. each year, the occurrence of a fatal case in Coconino County highlights the need for continued vigilance in public health measures.
Although the plague is most commonly associated with the Black Death in medieval Europe, which killed millions, modern medical interventions have made it far less deadly. However, the recent case in Arizona serves as a stark reminder that the disease remains a public health threat, particularly in regions where wildlife and human populations overlap. Health experts are urging people in affected areas to take precautions, such as avoiding contact with wild animals and using insect repellent, to reduce the risk of infection.