1 person dies of the plague in northern Arizona
Person dies from the plague in Northern Arizona
Reports from Flagstaff state that one person has died, on the same day they showed up at Flagstaff Medical Center with symptoms of an illness. That person later tested positive for Yersinia pestis, which is the bacteria that causes the plague.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A medical case involving the plague has resulted in one death in Arizona.
What we know:
According to Northern Arizona Healthcare, the person showed up with symptoms at the Flagstaff Medical Center, and died later that day. The person tested positive for Yersinia pestis, which is the bacteria that causes the plague.
What we don't know:
The person who died was a Coconino County resident, but they weren't identified.
Dig deeper:
Earlier in the week, officials with the Coconino County Health Department reported a prairie dog die-off that happened northeast of Flagstaff, which is an indicator of the disease. However, health department officials have since confirmed the plague death is not related to the prairie dog die-off.
What is the Plague?
Big picture view:
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the plague usually spreads through bites from fleas that previously bit an infected animal. The website notes there are three types of plagues: Bubonic, Septicemic, and Pneumonic. They are each named for the part of the body that gets a Yersinia pestis infection.
"While it still exists, plague is extremely rare now. Worldwide, 1,000 to 2,000 people are diagnosed with plague every year. Only about seven cases are reported in the U.S. each year," read a portion of Cleveland Clinic's website.
Symptoms of the plague include, among other things:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Weakness and fatigue
- Dizziness
Cleveland Clinic's website states a number of animals carry and spread the plague, including:
- Rodents, including rats, mice, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, gerbils, and guinea pigs
- Other small mammals
- Pet dogs and pet cats
- Deer
- Camels
What they're saying:
"You need to get treated immediately if you have plague. While antibiotics work well, you have the best chance of getting better if you start taking them within 24 hours of noticing symptoms," read a portion of Cleveland Clinic's website.
Northern Arizona has seen plague cases in the past
This is not the first time a plague case has been identified in Northern Arizona.
Timeline:
In 1996, there were five identified cases in the Four Corners region of Arizona and Colorado, and an 18-year-old from Flagstaff died during that outbreak.
In 2007, there was one confirmed case, and in 2014 and 2015, fleas in Flagstaff tested positive for it.
Plague in Arizona: Health officials address concerns after Flagstaff death
When you hear the word plague, many minds jump to the Bubonic plague from the 1300s, but Will Humble of the Arizona Public Health Association says that word has a different meaning today.