Arizona resident dies from plague, health officials say

A nonmigratory of Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, wellness officials confirmed connected Friday.

This was the archetypal recorded decease from the illness successful the region since 2007, Coconino County Health and Human Services reported. In that case, a idiosyncratic had an enactment with a dormant carnal infected with the disease.

Plague, known arsenic the "Black Death" successful the 14th century, killed up to fractional of Europe's population. It is present uncommon successful humans and tin beryllium treated with antibiotics.

An mean of 7 quality plague cases are reported each twelvemonth successful the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Coconino County authorities said the hazard to the nationalist of vulnerability remains low.

"Our hearts spell retired to the household and friends of the deceased," Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chair Patrice Horstman said successful a statement. "We are keeping them successful our thoughts during this hard time. Out of respect for the family, nary further accusation astir the decease volition beryllium released."

Pneumonic plague is simply a terrible lung corruption caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium.

There are antithetic forms of plague, specified arsenic bubonic plague, which is the astir communal and is caused by the wound of an infected flea. Pneumonic plague, which spreads to the lungs from different untreated forms of plague, is the astir superior and is usually rare.

Symptoms of the bubonic plague successful humans typically look wrong 2 to 8 days aft vulnerability and whitethorn see fever, chills, headache, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes.

Plague is nary longer recovered successful the UK and the accidental of it occurring successful a idiosyncratic returning to the state is "very low", the government says.

Prevention measures see utilizing a DEET-based insect repellent to support against flea bites, avoiding interaction with dormant animals, infected tissues oregon materials, and avoiding adjacent interaction with symptomatic patients and crowded areas wherever cases person been precocious reported.