The ancient disease commonly called the Black Death has never been fully eradicated. Modern antibiotics make it treatable, but health officials stress that vigilance remains essential, especially in rural western communities where most of the roughly seven annual U.S. cases occur.

Where the disease shows up

Since the 1990s, the World Health Organization has recorded the majority of human cases in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an average of about seven human cases per year, concentrated in the western states where prairie dogs, ground squirrels and other wild rodents serve as natural reservoirs.

How plague spreads

Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, lives naturally among rodents. Fleas that bite infected animals can transmit the bacteria to people, producing the most common form—bubonic plague—characterized by painful swollen lymph nodes called buboes, high fever, chills and headaches. If left untreated, bubonic plague can progress to pneumonic plague, which infects the lungs and spreads through respiratory droplets, or septicemic plague, an infection of the bloodstream. Both of these forms are fatal without prompt antibiotic treatment.

Direct contact with infected animal tissue or bodily fluids also poses a risk. Health experts advise anyone handling dead or sick wildlife to wear protective gloves and practice strict hygiene.

What to do if you suspect exposure

Dr. Glenn Wortmann of MedStar Washington Hospital Center explains that pneumonic plague requires close, face‑to‑face contact to spread. “If you cough, you can spread it to another person, but that doesn’t travel very far,” he said, emphasizing the importance of early medical evaluation. Prompt diagnosis and a course of antibiotics can cure the infection; delayed treatment dramatically increases the chance of death.

Vaccines and prevention

The World Health Organization recommends a vaccine only for people at high occupational risk, such as laboratory workers and healthcare providers who may handle Yersinia pestis. No plague vaccine is currently available to the general public in the United States, and the efficacy of existing vaccines against pneumonic plague remains uncertain.

Recent concerns abroad

In Siberia, a researcher at a plague institute died of pneumonia, prompting Russian authorities to quarantine the facility. Initial media speculation suggested pneumonic plague, but testing later showed no evidence of the bacterium.

“People think the plague is gone, it was something that occurred 500 years ago. It’s not. It’s here amongst us,” said Simon Clarke of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He added that eliminating wild rodent populations is impossible, so ongoing surveillance and rapid treatment are the best defenses.

Key takeaways for residents

• Know the signs: sudden fever, swollen lymph nodes, chills, headache, and respiratory symptoms.
• If you work with wildlife or suspect exposure, seek medical care immediately.
• Antibiotics are effective when administered early; do not wait for symptoms to worsen.
• Stay informed about local health department alerts, especially during rodent‑population surges.

While the plague is rare, it remains a real public‑health concern. By understanding how it spreads and acting quickly when symptoms appear, communities can keep this centuries‑old threat at bay.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.