By Tinshui Yeung | BBC News

A resident of Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, marking the region’s first fatal case of the disease since 2007, according to health authorities in Coconino County.

Officials confirmed the death on Friday, noting that the individual had contracted the most severe form of plague, which affects the lungs. In the 2007 case, the disease was traced to contact with an infected dead animal.

The plague—infamously known as the “Black Death” during the 14th century—once claimed millions of lives across Europe. Today, however, it is rare and can be effectively treated with antibiotics if caught early. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about seven cases of human plague are reported in the United States each year.

Despite the recent fatality, Coconino County Health and Human Services emphasized that the risk to the broader public remains low.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Patrice Horstman, Chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. “We extend our deepest sympathies and will not be releasing further details out of respect for the family’s privacy.”

Pneumonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and can develop when bubonic or septicemic forms of the disease are left untreated. While bubonic plague is typically transmitted through flea bites and is the most common form, pneumonic plague can spread rapidly through respiratory droplets and is considered the most dangerous variant.

Symptoms usually appear within two to eight days of exposure and may include fever, chills, severe headache, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes in cases of bubonic plague.

Though the disease has been eradicated from the UK, health officials there say the risk of it reemerging through travelers remains extremely low.

To prevent infection, authorities recommend applying insect repellent containing DEET to ward off flea bites, avoiding contact with sick or dead animals, steering clear of contaminated materials, and maintaining distance from individuals showing symptoms—especially in areas with recent outbreaks.