One resident of Arizona died of pulmonary plagueas confirmed by the health authorities on Friday.

This is the first recorded death from the disease in County since 2007, according to Health and Human Services Service of Kokonino County. Then a person had come into contact with a dead animal that was infected with the disease.

The plague, known as the “black death” in the 14th century, killed up to half of Europe. Today it is rare in humans and can be treated with antibiotics.

On average, seven human outbreaks of plague are reported each year in the United States, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The local County County government said the risk of exposure to the general public remains low.

Prevention and treatment

Pulmonary plague is a severe infection of the lungs caused by the bacterium Yersinia Pestis.

There are different forms of plague, such as the groin plague, which is the most common and is transmitted through a contaminated flea. The pulmonary plague, which can occur when other forms of the disease are not treated, extends to the lungs and is the most serious, though rare.

Symptoms of groin plague in humans usually occur within two to eight days after exposure and may include fever, chills, headache, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.

The plague is no longer found in the United Kingdom and its probability of appearing to a person returning to the country is considered “very low”, according to the government.

Prevention measures include the use of an insect repellent based on the active substance for protection against flea bites, avoiding contact with dead animals, infected tissues or materials, as well as avoiding close contact with symptomatic patients and crowded spaces where recent cases have been reported.