Arizona Resident Dies of Confirmed Pneumonic Plague Infection — What to Know

A Northern Arizona resident has died after contracting a severe form of the plague, marking the first such fatality in Coconino County since 2007, according to local health officials.

In a statement released Friday, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) confirmed that the patient was treated at the Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Department, but despite all efforts to provide emergency resuscitation, the individual died the same day. The patient’s identity and further medical details have not been released due to privacy laws.

“We recently cared for a patient in the emergency department at Flagstaff Medical Center. Despite appropriate initial management and life-saving efforts, the patient did not recover,” NAH stated on July 11.

“Out of respect for the family, no additional information about the death will be released,” added Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chair Patrice Horstman in a separate press release.

First Plague Death in the County Since 2007

On July 11, Coconino County Health and Human Services confirmed that the individual died from pneumonic plague, a highly infectious and dangerous lung infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This is the first confirmed pneumonic plague death in the county since 2007, when another individual contracted the illness after handling an infected dead animal.

The Arizona Department of Health Services issued a presumptive diagnosis following rapid testing, and county health officials confirmed the infection after laboratory analysis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plague is rare in the modern world, but a few cases are still reported each year, particularly in rural areas of the western United States.

What Is Pneumonic Plague?

The plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium that still circulates among wild rodents and fleas in regions like northern Arizona. While bubonic plague is the most commonly known form—often transmitted via flea bites—pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can be spread through airborne droplets, making it the most dangerous and contagious variant.

There are three primary forms of plague:

The incubation period for pneumonic plague can be as short as one day, and without immediate antibiotic treatment, it is often fatal.

Why Does Plague Still Exist in the U.S.?

Although plague may seem like an illness of the past, it still exists in several rural and semi-urban areas of the western U.S., including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and California. It is typically spread by infected fleas that live on prairie dogs, squirrels, and other rodents.

According to a 1996 CDC report, two Arizona residents died from plague after being exposed to fleas near a prairie dog colony in Navajo County, just over 100 miles from Flagstaff. The disease is known to circulate in wildlife reservoirs, and domestic pets can sometimes carry infected fleas into homes.

In the most recent case, Coconino County officials said there is no indication that this death is linked to any recent prairie dog die-offs, although such occurrences are being closely monitored.

Symptoms to Watch For

Symptoms of plague usually develop within one to eight days after exposure. According to the CDC and county health officials:

• Fever and chills

• Headache and muscle pain

• Weakness or fatigue

• Swollen lymph nodes (bubonic)

• Chest pain, cough, or bloody mucus (pneumonic)

• Abdominal pain or signs of sepsis (septicemic)

If untreated, plague can progress rapidly and become fatal. Immediate antibiotic treatment is highly effective but must be administered early.

How to Protect Yourself

Public health officials emphasize that while plague is serious, the overall risk to the public remains low. Still, residents and visitors in plague-prone areas should take precautions:

• Avoid handling sick or dead animals.

• Use veterinarian-approved flea control on pets.

• Keep pets indoors or on a leash to reduce exposure.

• Eliminate rodent habitats around the home: remove trash, brush, and wood piles.

• Avoid camping near rodent burrows or colonies.

Final Thoughts

The tragic death of a Coconino County resident is a stark reminder that ancient diseases can still pose modern-day threats. As urban development continues to expand into wild areas, human contact with zoonotic diseases—those transmitted from animals to humans—will likely increase. Vigilance, awareness, and early treatment remain the best tools to prevent rare cases like this from becoming widespread tragedies.