Arizona resident dies from plague, health officials say

A resident of Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, health officials confirmed on Friday.

This was the first recorded death from the disease in the county since 2007, Coconino County Health and Human Services reported. In that case, a person had an interaction with a dead animal infected with the disease.

Plague, known as the “Black Death” in the 14th century, killed up to half of Europe’s population. It is now rare in humans and can be treated with antibiotics.

An average of seven human plague cases are reported each year in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Coconino County government said the risk to the public of exposure remains low.