Arizona plague death 2025 confirmed after a patient at Flagstaff Medical Center died from pneumonic plague. Health officials urge caution and early treatment.
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Arizona Plague Death 2025 Shocker: Flagstaff Patient Dies Same Day from Pneumonic Infection
Arizona plague death 2025 has been confirmed after a patient in Coconino County died from pneumonic plague shortly after arriving at the Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Department.
The unidentified patient arrived at the ER, received immediate care, and died within hours. According to Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH), life-saving resuscitation was attempted, but the patient did not survive. Rapid testing led to a presumptive diagnosis of Yersinia pestis, which was later confirmed by health authorities.
First Pneumonic Plague Death in County Since 2007
The Coconino County Health and Human Services Department (CCHHS) confirmed that this was the first pneumonic plague-related death in the county since 2007. That earlier case involved contact with a dead, infected animal — a known risk factor in the rural western U.S.
The current case is not linked to a recent prairie dog die-off in the Townsend Winona area northeast of Flagstaff, although that incident is being monitored for potential plague indicators.
Flagstaff Hospital Confirms Case, Urges Caution
NAH stated the patient received “appropriate initial management” upon arrival, but their condition deteriorated too quickly. Hospital staff followed standard protocols for infectious diseases.
The facility is now cooperating with both Coconino County and the Arizona Department of Health Services to trace any contacts and investigate the origin of the infection.
“If your illness is severe, go to the ER and immediately ask for a mask to help reduce transmission risk,” NAH said in a public advisory.
What Is Pneumonic Plague?
Pneumonic plague is one of three main forms of the disease caused by Yersinia pestis. Unlike bubonic plague, which affects lymph nodes, pneumonic plague attacks the lungs and can be spread through respiratory droplets.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains it may develop when bubonic or septicemic plague goes untreated, or if someone inhales droplets from an infected person or animal.
Symptoms & Prevention
Symptoms typically appear within 2–6 days and include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Weakness
- Rapid pneumonia
- Painful, swollen lymph nodes (in bubonic form)
Although deadly, the disease is highly treatable with early antibiotics. The CDC says an average of seven human plague cases are reported annually in the U.S., mostly in the rural Southwest.
Officials Monitoring Wildlife Area
CCHHS confirmed they are testing flea samples from prairie dog burrows in the Townsend Winona area to assess risks and prevent future outbreaks.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Patrice Horstman, chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.