An American living in northern Arizona has died from pneumonic plague – previously known as “The Black Death” – health officials said last week.
CBS reports that the bacterial infection is rare in humans, with on average only about seven cases reported annually in the United States.
No additional information about the death has been released.
The disease killed tens of millions in 14th century Europe. During an eight-year period, from 1 346 to 1 353, it killed up to 60% of the population of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to estimates. Today, it’s easily treated with antibiotics.
The bubonic plague is the most common form of the bacterial infection, which spreads naturally among rodents like prairie dogs and rats.
There are two other forms: septicaemic plague that spreads through the whole body, and pneumonic plague that infects the lungs.
Pneumonic plague is the deadliest and easiest to spread.
The bacteria is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas that can spread it between rodents, pets and humans.
People can also get plague through touching infected bodily fluids. Health experts recommend taking extra care when handling dead or sick animals.
Most cases happen in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC said 496 cases of plague had been documented, mostly in the Western and south-western US between 1970 and 2020. More than half of the cases were reported in New Mexico.
A human case appeared in Southern Colorado last July after the death of a New Mexico resident from the plague in March.
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