Northern Arizona Resident Dies From Plague

Northern Arizona Resident Dies From Plague

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — As reported by the Associated Press, a northern Arizona resident has died from pneumonic plague, marking the first such death in Coconino County since 2007, health officials said Friday.

Plague cases in humans are rare, with an average of about seven reported annually in the United States, primarily in the western states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Local officials did not release the victim’s identity or further details.

As pest management professionals know, plaque is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas that can spread it between rodents, pets and humans. Most cases in the U.S. occur in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: Associated Press