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Plague in Flagstaff: It's Not What Some News Reports Are Telling You [1]

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Date: 2025-07-11

Not all plague is created equal. We're talking about two distinct beasts here, both caused by the same bacterium, Yersinia pestis , but with very different playbooks. And trust me, understanding the difference isn't just for medical school entrance exams; it actually matters for not losing your mind in a panic.

The Tale of Two Plagues: It's Not That Complicated

First, you’ve got bubonic plague . This is the one that probably pops into your head when you hear the word "plague"—think medieval Europe, bad hygiene, and folks dropping like flies. It's usually caught from the bite of an infected flea, or maybe if you're wrestling with a sick squirrel (don't do that). The hallmark of bubonic plague? Swollen, painfully tender lymph nodes, often in the groin, armpit, or neck. We call 'em "buboes." Hence the name. Here's the key takeaway: Bubonic plague generally does not spread from person to person. You're not going to catch it from shaking hands with someone who has it. It's usually a dead end for the bug.

Then there’s pneumonic plague , the flavor that just reared its ugly head in Flagstaff. This one's a whole different kettle of fish. It attacks the lungs, leading to a nasty, rapid-onset pneumonia. Think fever, cough, chest pain, and struggling to breathe. And here’s the rub, the part that makes public health officials sit up straighter: Pneumonic plague can and does spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. Yeah, we're talking coughs and sneezes. Like a particularly grim game of musical chairs, but with lung infections.

So, when you see a headline screaming about "the plague" and then showing a picture of someone in a medieval doctor's mask, ask yourself: are they being precise? Because the distinction between a localized infection that doesn't jump between people and a respiratory one that does is, shall we say, significant. The death in Flagstaff was confirmed as pneumonic plague, which is why public health authorities are being very clear about monitoring close contacts – something they wouldn't do with a straightforward bubonic case.

A Brief Jaunt Through History (No Buboes Required)

Now, for a bit of historical context. Plague isn't some relic safely locked away in a museum. It’s an old timer, sure, but it still circulates in the wild, especially in parts of the American West. Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado – these states are known stomping grounds for Yersinia pestis among rodent populations, particularly those adorable (and disease-carrying) prairie dogs.

The "Black Death" of the 14th century, a nightmare that wiped out perhaps a third of Europe, was predominantly bubonic. It was a brutal reminder of nature's indifference. When plague hopped over to the U.S. around 1900, largely on rat-infested ships, it eventually set up shop in our wild rodent populations.

But here’s where we get to exhale a tiny bit: Human cases in the U.S. are rare, usually numbering in the single digits each year. And while the Flagstaff death from pneumonic plague is tragic and concerning, it's also rare. The last reported death from this form in Coconino County was way back in 2007. So, while it's a stark reminder that these things exist, it's not time to start hoarding surgical masks just yet.

Coconino County Health and Human Services have been on it, and they've stated that this death isn't directly tied to any recent prairie dog die-offs that got folks whispering. They're doing their due diligence, checking out rodent populations and telling people to keep their distance from wild animals and, for goodness sake, use flea repellent.

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