Home / Health / Arizona Resident Dies from Rare Pneumonic Plague
Arizona Resident Dies from Rare Pneumonic Plague
12 Jul
Summary
- Resident of northern Arizona dies from pneumonic plague
- Plague is rare, with about 7 cases reported annually in the U.S.
- This was the first recorded pneumonic plague death since 2007
A resident of Coconino County, Arizona, has recently died from pneumonic plague, a rare and deadly bacterial infection. Plague cases are uncommon in the United States, with an average of only about 7 reported annually, primarily in the western states.
The death in Coconino County, which includes the city of Flagstaff, was the first recorded pneumonic plague fatality since 2007, according to local health officials. While further details about the victim were not released, the county's Board of Supervisors Chair expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
Plague, also known as "The Black Death," was responsible for killing tens of millions of people in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa during the 14th century. However, today, the disease is easily treatable with antibiotics. The most deadly form, pneumonic plague, can spread through the air and is the easiest to transmit between individuals.
