Arizona resident dies from pneumonic plague after nearly 20 years without cases

In July 2025, health officials in Coconino County, Arizona, reported the death of a resident due to pneumonic plague, marking the area's first recorded death from the disease since 2007. The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was admitted to a local emergency room with symptoms consistent with severe pneumonia and respiratory failure. Testing confirmed a positive result for Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for pneumonic plague, a particularly virulent form of the disease known for its rapid progression and high mortality rate if untreated. Following the death, local health authorities issued warnings advising residents to exercise caution around sick pets and wildlife, particularly given a reported increase in mortality among prairie dog populations in the vicinity, which may be connected with potential plague activity. Officials expressed concerns about the implications of such die-offs, as they often serve as indicators of plague presence in the area. However, officials from the county health department emphasized that there was no direct link between the recent resident's death and the prairie dog die-off, which appeared to be a separate event. The last such incident recorded in the county occurred in 2007. Typically rare, pneumonic plague cases in the United States occur primarily in rural areas of the West, with only a handful diagnosed each year. Most human cases arise from infected flea bites or direct contact with infected animals. Despite the historic context of the plague, which claimed millions of lives during the Black Death of the 14th century, it remains treatable with antibiotics if caught early enough. Nonetheless, untreated pneumonic plague has a considerably high mortality rate, leading to fears during outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there have only been 15 deaths related to plague in the U.S. from 2000 to 2023, illustrating the rarity of such fatalities. With proper public health responses like monitoring wildlife populations and issuing health alerts, officials aim to mitigate the risk of plague transmission to humans and control outbreaks effectively. The spread of this disease has typically been managed through education, public awareness, and careful monitoring of wildlife, indicating a need for ongoing vigilance in affected areas.