Pneumonic Plague: Yersinia Pestis Kills Arizona Patient, First Death Since 2007

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/world/...ient-first-death-since-2007-article-152266946

Pneumonic Plague: Yersinia Pestis Kills Arizona Patient, First Death Since 2007
Authored by: Yuvraj Tyagi
Updated Jul 12, 2025, 05:26 IST
A Coconino County resident died from pneumonic plague at Flagstaff Medical Center, marking the first such death in the county since 2007, health officials confirmed Friday. The patient, infected by the Yersinia pestis bacterium, succumbed despite resuscitation efforts. The case is unrelated to a recent prairie dog die-off in the Townsend Winona area.​

A Coconino County resident succumbed to pneumonic plague at Flagstaff Medical Centre’s Emergency Department, marking the first recorded death from the disease in the county since 2007, according to Northern Arizona Healthcare. Rapid diagnostic tests confirmed the presence of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the severe lung infection, with final results verified Friday by Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS). Despite “appropriate initial management” and life-saving resuscitation attempts, the unidentified patient died the same day they sought treatment...

 

[Commonground]

Arizona: Health officials address concerns after first pneumonic plague death in Coconino County since 2007

Media

Health officials address concerns after first pneumonic plague death in Coconino County since 2007

​July 13, 2025
The diease is mostly found in rural areas of northern Arizona, western Nevada, northern New Mexico, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.​


The pneumonic plague has killed an unidentified person living in Arizona, according to health officials cited in several reports.

The person, who lived in Coconino County, is the first human to die of the disease in that area in close to 20 years, dating back to 2007.

Health officials are telling local residents not to worry given that the diease is treatable with antibiotics.

Less than 10 people on average are diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. each year.

The diease is mostly found in rural areas of northern Arizona, western Nevada, northern New Mexico, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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https://justthenews.com/government/local/first-pneumonic-plague-death-coconino-county-2007

 

[Commonground]

Plague in Arizona: Health officials address concerns after Flagstaff death

July 12, 2025
Excerpt:

What they're saying:

Although health officials in Coconino County announced its first recorded death from pneumonic plague since 2007, Humble says there's no need for panic.

He described how the disease typically spreads: "You have to have an infected prairie dog colony, that colony has to have fleas living on the prairie dogs, then you have to have usually a pet, cat or dog, to go into that prairie dog colony, get bit by the fleas, then they come home, the dog has fleas, and then they can bite the human, and that's how the human can get the plague."

continued: https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/p...icials-address-concerns-after-flagstaff-death
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[Commonground]

1 person dies of the plague in northern Arizona
​July 11, 2025
Excerpt:

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 Countyresident, but they weren't identified.
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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.

Continued: https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/1-person-dies-plague-northern-arizona
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