In a rare occurrence, a man in New Mexico died in March after being hospitalized for the bubonic plague, a disease that plagued Europe as the Black Death during the Middle Ages, causing an estimated 50 million deaths. The recent case serves as a reminder that while uncommon, the disease still exists in the modern era.

Bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is transmitted by fleas that live on rodents. People usually contract the disease either through flea bites or by handling infected animals. Cats can directly infect humans, while dogs may unintentionally carry infected fleas back to their owners. Additionally, human-to-human transmission can occur through inhaling droplets from the cough of an infected person or animal.

Symptoms of the bubonic plague typically appear within one to seven days after infection and include painful, swollen lymph nodes called bubos, fever, chills, and coughing. Although the disease affects humans and other mammals, it specifically targets rodents and persists due to low-level circulation among certain rodent populations.

While the bubonic plague occurs naturally in rural areas of the western United States, particularly in states like Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico, a significantly higher number of cases are reported in Africa and Asia. From 2010 to 2015, a total of 3,248 cases, including 584 deaths, were reported worldwide, with hotspots in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Peru.

To prevent the spread of the disease, key steps include eliminating nesting places for rodents around homes, reporting sick or dead animals to authorities, wearing gloves while handling infected animals, and regularly treating pets for fleas. Individuals living in endemic areas should use insect repellent containing DEET to prevent flea bites and avoid sleeping with their pets, as it increases the risk of contracting the disease.

Fortunately, modern antibiotics, such as streptomycin, are highly effective in treating bubonic and pneumonic plague when administered promptly after symptom onset. However, a strain of bubonic plague has emerged in Madagascar with high-level resistance to streptomycin, raising concerns about the disease's evolving nature.

Experts emphasize that, although serious, the bubonic plague is easily treatable as long as it is caught early. Dr. Harish Moorjani, an infectious disease specialist, notes that the Yersinia pestis vaccine is primarily recommended for high-risk individuals working with the bacterium. Ongoing research is exploring different approaches to develop an effective plague vaccine to prevent potential outbreaks.

The recent case serves as a reminder that while the bubonic plague still exists, there is no need to panic as long as appropriate precautions are taken. Awareness, early detection, and timely treatment remain crucial in limiting the impact of this historic disease in the modern world.