RARE PLAGUE CASE TURNS DEADLY IN ARIZONA, FIRST PNEUMONIC FATALITY SINCE 2007

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE

Article Published on: 12TH JULY 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com

A rare but deadly case of pneumonic plague has claimed the life of a resident in northern Arizona, marking the first confirmed fatality from the disease in Coconino County since 2007. The patient died at Flagstaff Medical Center shortly after arriving at the emergency department, according to Northern Arizona Healthcare. Despite immediate medical intervention and life-saving resuscitation efforts, the patient could not be saved.

Health officials confirmed that the individual had contracted Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague, also known historically as the Black Death. Rapid testing led to a presumptive diagnosis, and an investigation has been launched by the Arizona Department of Health Services to trace the source of the infection.

“This is the first pneumonic plague death in our county in nearly two decades,” officials noted. The last recorded case in 2007 was linked to contact with an infected animal.

Plague, though infamous for its devastating historical impact, is now extremely rare. Globally, the World Health Organization reports only 1,000 to 2,000 cases per year, with the U.S. averaging about seven annually. According to the Cleveland Clinic, plague can still pose a serious health risk if not treated promptly.

There are three forms of plague: bubonic, affecting the lymph nodes; septicemic, spreading through the bloodstream; and pneumonic, the most severe and contagious, attacking the lungs. Pneumonic plague can spread through respiratory droplets, raising public health concerns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges immediate medical attention if plague is suspected, emphasizing that early antibiotic treatment can be highly effective. Most infections are caused by flea bites from infected animals, making public awareness and prompt response critical to preventing further transmission.