Overview

• The death of a Coconino County resident on July 1 was confirmed as bubonic plague, the first U.S. fatality from the disease since 2007.
• Officials say the infection likely resulted from flea bites on local rodent hosts, and they stress that direct human-to-human transmission remains extremely rare.
• Authorities have traced the patient’s contacts and are conducting wildlife surveillance to identify infection reservoirs and prevent further spillover.
• Modern antibiotics such as streptomycin typically cut plague mortality far below its historical rate when administered promptly.
• The U.S. reports an average of seven plague cases annually, predominantly in the Southwest, and WHO guidance limits vaccination to high-risk laboratory or healthcare personnel.