Arizona Records First Pneumonic Plague Death; Health Officials on Alert

Health officials in Coconino County, Arizona, have confirmed that a resident has died from pneumonic plague, marking the county’s first such death since 2007

The unidentified patient arrived at Flagstaff Medical Center’s emergency department and died the same day despite efforts to provide life-saving treatment
Rapid diagnostic testing pointed to Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague, with further testing confirming the presence of pneumonic plague, a severe lung infection
Pneumonic plague can occur when the bacteria spread to the lungs from another form of plague or when someone inhales infectious droplets from an infected person or animal
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies three main forms of plague: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic
Though now rare, bubonic plague — historically infamous for devastating Europe in the Middle Ages — still appears sporadically in the rural western U.S., as well as parts of Africa and Asia
Symptoms of plague typically appear within two to six days and include fever, chills, and swollen, painful lymph nodes, particularly in the armpit, neck, or groin
On average, seven human plague cases are reported annually in the U.S., most of which are not fatal when treated early with antibiotics
Humans can contract plague through the bite of an infected rodent flea or through direct contact with infected animals
The hospital is working with the Arizona Department of Health Services and local health officials to investigate the source of the infection
Earlier in the week, Coconino County reported a prairie dog die-off in the Townsend Winona area northeast of Flagstaff, often a sign of plague presence, though this incident is not linked to the recent death
Flea collection and burrow treatment efforts are underway on the affected private property to curb potential plague activity and monitor the area for further risk

Health officials urge residents to avoid contact with wild rodents and report unusual die-offs of animals, while reminding the public that early treatment with antibiotics can be highly effective if plague symptoms are identified quickly.