Pneumonia Epidemic Reported in Northern Arizona
Local health officials have declared a pneumonia epidemic in northern Arizona.
An unnamed patient from Coconino County visited the emergency department at Flagstaff Medical Center, where they unfortunately passed away the same day, according to a statement from Northern Arizona Healthcare. The timeline of the death remains unclear.
The hospital mentioned that “appropriate initial management” and “attempts to provide life-saving resuscitation” were initiated, but the patient ultimately did not survive.
Diagnostic tests suggested a probable case of Yersinia Pestis.
On Friday, Coconino County’s Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the patient had died from pneumonia, specifically a severe infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia Pestis.
This incident marked the first death linked to a pneumonia epidemic in the county since 2007, when a person had contact with an infected dead animal, as per county officials.
The plague can manifest in various forms, including bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. Pneumonia epidemics arise when the bacteria infect a person’s lungs or when others inhale infectious droplets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC highlights the historical impact of this disease, which decimated populations in Europe during the Middle Ages. Despite its grim history, it appears sporadically in the western United States, as well as in certain areas of Africa and Asia. Yersinia Pestis affects both humans and other mammals.
Symptoms typically appear within two to six days after infection and may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and pain, primarily in areas like the armpits, groin, and neck.
The CDC reports an average of seven human plague cases annually in the U.S., though these are not always fatal.
Humans usually contract the disease through flea bites from infected rodents, but early treatment with antibiotics is typically effective.
In light of recent events, the hospital is collaborating with the Coconino County Health and Human Services Department and the Arizona Department of Health Services to further investigate the situation.
“NAH encourages anyone feeling unwell with a contagious illness to reach out to their healthcare provider. If symptoms are severe, visiting the emergency department is essential, along with wearing masks to help prevent the disease’s spread while seeking urgent care,” the hospital stated.
Earlier in the week, Coconino County Health and Welfare reported a decline in prairie dog populations in the Winona area, northeast of Flagstaff, which authorities suggested could indicate the presence of the plague. However, the department clarified that recent fatalities do not relate to the prairie dogs.
The affected areas were primarily private property, and CCHHS is collaborating with property owners to collect fleas for testing. Flea activity is being monitored and burrows are being treated to mitigate the situation.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased,” expressed Patrice Holstman, chairman of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. “We are thinking of them during this challenging time and will not release further information about the death out of respect for the family.”
