A sudden and tragic death in Northern Arizona has jolted both local officials and public health experts. A resident died from the plague within just 24 hours of showing symptoms, marking one of the rare but serious instances of the disease in the United States. The person, who has not been publicly identified, was rushed to Flagstaff Medical Center in critical condition but succumbed the same day. An autopsy confirmed the presence of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague.

The case has sparked renewed concern, especially as it occured at the same time with a reported die-off of prairie dogs near Flagstaff, an ecological warning sign that the plague may be spreading through local wildlife.

Though it’s often associated with the Black Death of the 14th century, which wiped out millions in Europe, plague is far from extinct. In fact, it continues to appear in small pockets across rural parts of the western United States—including areas of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

According to the CDC, the U.S. reports an average of seven human plague cases annually. Most of them are bubonic plague, and the disease remains treatable with antibiotics—if caught in time.

The recent Arizona case is a stark reminder of how fast and fatal plague can be if untreated. Coconino County health officials said symptoms can appear within 1–8 days of exposure, and immediate medical care is essential to survival.

While officials have withheld the identity and demographic details of the deceased, their rapid deterioration has been linked to an ongoing investigation into unusual prairie dog deaths northeast of Flagstaff. These rodents, commonly found across the Southwest, are known to harbor fleas that can transmit Yersinia pestis.

“Prairie dogs are highly susceptible to plague but are not considered long-term reservoirs of the disease,” the county stated. However, their die-off is often the first sign that plague is circulating in the environment.

Authorities are working with private property owners to collect flea samples from affected areas. So far, no other human cases have been confirmed.

What Is Yersinia pestis?

Yersinia pestis is a highly infectious bacterium that causes plague. It spreads primarily through bites from infected fleas or direct contact with infected animals, especially rodents. Humans may also become infected through handling contaminated animal tissues or inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person or animal.

Despite its ancient roots, modern plague is very much a public health concern and if left untreated, it can quickly escalate into a medical emergency.

3 Forms of Plague

Plague manifests in three distinct ways, depending on how the infection spreads in the body:

Bubonic Plague

The most common form, often spread by flea bites. Symptoms include fever, chills, extreme fatigue, and painful, swollen lymph nodes (called buboes). If treated promptly with antibiotics, survival rates exceed 90%.

Septicemic Plague

This form affects the bloodstream and can arise from untreated bubonic plague or direct infection. It’s more severe and presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bleeding under the skin, and tissue death—often turning fingers, toes, or the nose black. Left untreated, it is often fatal.

Pneumonic Plague

The rarest and most dangerous form, pneumonic plague infects the lungs. It can be transmitted from person to person through airborne droplets, making it the only contagious form. Symptoms include fever, chest pain, cough, and difficulty breathing. Without treatment, it progresses rapidly and is often fatal.

In the Arizona case, the resident reportedly died within a day of showing symptoms, underscoring the disease’s swift progression. According to health officials, timing is everything. Plague must be treated within 24 hours of symptom onset for the best outcome.

The last significant outbreak in Arizona occurred in 1996, when two out of five infected individuals died. In both cases, a delayed diagnosis was the critical failure. One of them, an 18-year-old, likely contracted the disease after walking through a prairie dog colony in Navajo County. Traces of Yersinia pestis were later found in the fleas of pet dogs in the area.

Risk Factors and Tips to Stay Safe Related to Plague

While plague is rare, it remains a risk in certain rural areas where wild rodent populations are common. Arizona’s Department of Health and the CDC recommend the following precautions:

• Avoid contact with wild rodents, especially sick or dead animals.
• Use flea control products for pets and avoid letting them roam in areas with prairie dogs or wild rabbits.
• Clear clutter and debris around homes to deter rodent nesting.
• Stay away from burrows or animal dens, particularly when camping or hiking.
• Report unusual animal deaths, particularly among prairie dogs or squirrels, to local authorities.

Residents experiencing fever, swollen glands, or flu-like symptoms following exposure to wild areas should contact their physician immediately and mention possible rodent or flea exposure.

Is the Plague Coming Back?

No. While the term “plague” conjures images of medieval pandemics, modern medicine has kept it in check. Still, experts caution against complacency.

“People hear ‘plague’ and think it’s a relic of the past,” said a public health official from Coconino County. “But for those of us in rural areas of the West, it’s something we monitor every year.”

The plague hasn’t gone anywhere—it’s just rare. And in the few places where it remains endemic, vigilance is essential.

If you're in a region where plague is known to exist, take precautions seriously. Public health officials stress that education, awareness, and prompt action are the most powerful tools we have to prevent future tragedies like this one.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused Big Tobacco for manufacturing bad, ultra-processed addictive food which has contributed to the country's rising rates of obesity, chronic disease and left many Americans “poisoned”.

In an interview with 77 WABC radio, the Health and Human Secretary claimed that tobacco companies, such as Philip Morris USA, a subsidiary of Altria, had purposely bought food companies and began using scientific techniques to increase consumption in order to escape backlash from cigarette use.

“They saw the regulatory headwinds and litigation headed their way … So, they decided to diversify. And how did they do that? They bought the food companies.

“By 1995, the two biggest food companies in the world were Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds. They moved all of these thousands of scientists who were for years making tobacco more addictive, and they moved them to figure out ways to make food addictive,” RFK Jr. told host John Catsimatidis.

What Did Big Tobacco Do?

The Make America Healthy Again leader explained that the country's major tobacco companies had designed and created foods that were chemically engineered to taste good while offering little to no nutritional value, saying this pattern helped fuel overeating and worsened health.

“They used chemicals and softeners to hijack our brains … The food tastes good. It smells good. But it has no nutrition, so it doesn’t fill you up, so you keep stuffing your pie hole all day. That’s what makes Americans obese.

“It’s not because Americans suddenly got lazy or indolent or hungry,” he added. “It’s because they were poisoned. Their minds were deliberately addicted to eat poison all day long. And we are going to end that now with this administration.”

Tobacco giants such as Philip Morris owns Kraft Foods and General Foods and R.J. Reynolds owns Del Monte Foods and Nabisco. Combined, these companies produce Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Oreo cookies, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Hawaiian Punch, Chips Ahoy! cookies, Lunchables, Triscuit and Ritz crackers, Oscar Mayer hot dogs.

Does US Have High Obesity Rates?

Around the same time tobacco companies began to produce fast food food, rates of obesity and the subsequent increased risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes across age groups jumped across the US.

CDC data from 2017–2020 showed that about 19.7 percent of children and adolescents between ages 2 and 19 had obesity, roughly 14.7 million young people. Among them, 12.7 percent were between ages 2–5, 20.7 percent were 6–11, and 22.2 percent were 12–19.

Dr Vivek Jain, Senior Director & Unit Head, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital explains that in recent years, obesity among children has risen sharply due to many factors which primarily include unhealthy diets.

READ MORE: Diet, Not Lack Of Exercise Is The Real Reason For Rise In Obesity

While are spending more time in front of screens, getting less outdoor play, and attending online classes, all of which cut down their activity levels. At the same time, fast food, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks have become a regular part of diets.

How To Prevent Childhood Obesity

Prevention needs a joint effort from families, schools, communities, and policymakers. Parents play the most important role, as they shape habits from an early age. Dr. Vivek suggests:

• Balanced nutrition: Encourage home-cooked meals with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit fried foods, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks.
• Physical activity: Aim for at least 60 minutes of active play or exercise daily, such as sports, cycling, or outdoor games.
• Reduced screen time: Limit television, mobile, and gaming time to help children stay active and sleep better.
• Family involvement: Lead by example—eat meals together, exercise as a family, and make health a priority.
• School initiatives: Schools should provide nutritious meals, promote physical education, and teach healthy habits.

Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal has raised concerns across India and in parts of Asia, triggering screenings at airports. India's Ministry of Health clarified on Tuesday that "speculative and incorrect figures regarding Nipah Virus Disease cases are being circulated in certain sections of the media”. This statement was regarding the higher number of cases reported by the media in Kolkata hospital. The statement stressed on the fact that only two cases have been centrally confirmed in West Bengal since December.

Nipah Virus Outbreak India: Can This Infection Become The Next Pandemic?

Many are worried about the Nipah virus outbreak and are speculating whether this could spread to an extent that it could become the next pandemic. Dr T.S. Anish, professor of community medicine and nodal officer for Nipah at the Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience, as reported by South China Morning Post, said health authorities closely monitor all suspected Nipah cases to make sure no infections are missed. However, he explained that most people who are tested eventually turn out to be negative.

“Out of 100 suspected cases, almost all are usually negative,” he said. He added that tracing every contact of a Nipah patient is difficult, so there is always a chance that a case may appear outside the known contact list. Still, he believes the current outbreak is likely to remain small, affecting fewer than 10 people.

Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak in India, Travelers Screened At Airports

Nipah virus mainly circulates among animals, especially fruit bats, across large parts of Asia. Human outbreaks, however, tend to be limited to specific areas. In South Asia, cases have appeared off and on in Bangladesh and India over the past 20 years, mostly between December and April. Many infections have been linked to people drinking raw date palm sap contaminated by bats.

Kerala has reported Nipah cases occasionally in recent years, including 19 cases in 2019 and six in 2023.

Some medical experts say large outbreaks usually happen only when there are early super-spreader events and continuous person-to-person transmission. That appears unlikely now, as enough time has passed since the cases in West Bengal were identified.

Amir Ullah Khan, professor of health economics at Manipal University, said the timing of the cases raised concern because it coincided with preparations for Lunar New Year travel across Asia. However, he said widespread screening at airports should help prevent the virus from spreading further.

Also Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: All That You Need To Know About This Infection

“If airports continue proper screening, there should not be a major risk of a wider outbreak,” he said, adding that precautions should continue without causing the kind of discomfort passengers experienced during the Covid pandemic.

Nipah Virus Outbreak: Travel Restrictions

After two cases were reported in India's West Bengal, concerns have sparked in many parts of Asia, and measures at airports have been tightened.

• Thailand has begun screening passengers at three airports that handle flights from West Bengal.
• Nepal has also stepped up checks, screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport as well as at several land border crossings with India.

Nipah virus spreads from animals to humans and carries a high fatality rate, estimated to be between 40 percent and 75 per cent. At present, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the infection.

Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal has raised concerns in parts of Asia. This has also led some airports to implement precautionary health screenings. As of now, five infections have been reported from the state, including two nurses, a doctor, hospital staff and some patient. According to India's health ministry, 196 people are known to be in contact with the infected individuals, however, when tested, the results came out negative.

Nipah Virus Outbreak India: How Contagious Is This Disease?

Nipah virus is infectious and can spread from animals like bats and pigs to humans through bodily fluids or contaminated food. It can also pass between people through close contact, especially in caregiving settings. While it can spread via respiratory droplets in enclosed spaces, it is not considered highly airborne and usually requires close, prolonged contact for transmission. Common routes include direct exposure to infected animals or their fluids, consuming contaminated fruits or date palm sap, and contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, urine, or blood from an infected person.

Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak in India, Travelers Screened At Airports

People most at risk of Nipah virus are those who are more likely to come into close contact with infected animals or patients. This includes:

• Healthcare workers caring for Nipah patients, especially without proper protective equipment
• Family members and caregivers who have close physical contact with infected individuals
• People living near bat habitats, particularly fruit bat roosting areas
• Those who consume contaminated food, such as raw date palm sap or fruits partially eaten by bats
• Farmers, animal handlers, and slaughterhouse workers who work with pigs or other animals that can carry the virus
• Residents of outbreak-prone regions in India and Bangladesh, where Nipah cases recur
• People with weak immunity, who may develop more severe illness after infection
• Close, prolonged contact is the biggest risk factor. Casual contact in public spaces is far less likely to spread the virus.

What Is Nipah Virus?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.

In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.

Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people.

Also Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: How Did It All Begin?

Nipah Virus Symptoms

• Fever
• Headache
• Breathing difficulties
• Cough and sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain and severe weakness

Nipah Virus Outbreak: Origin

The original infection was first identified in September 1998 in Perak, Malaysia, which was followed by second and third clusters in the state of Negri Sembilan, notes a 2021 study that tracks the evolution of the virus. The cases were prominent in adult men who were in contact with swine. By March 1999, a cluster of 11 similar cases were identified in Singapore, mostly common in slaughterhouse workers, who were in contact with pigs imported from Malaysia.

Then appeared a new, distinct strain of Nipah virus with infection which was characterized largely by severe respiratory symptoms. In 2000-2001, Bangladesh and India were affected.

It was later revealed that due to the consumption of raw date palm juice, the infection developed. This is because bats also are carrier of the virus and they may bite into raw fruits or lick them, and consuming juice from such fruits could spread the infection. This was a common practice in Bangladesh and much of South Asia.