Utah man dies of plague in fourth fatal U.S. case this year

A Utah man died of the plague earlier this month, marking the fourth death caused by the disease in the U.S. this year, state health officials said Thursday.

The man likely contracted the disease from a flea or contact with a dead animal, according to the Utah Department of Health.

This is the first case of the plague in Utah since 2009, according to JoDee Baker, an epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health. She said the plague is commonly found in concentrated rodent populations.

"In Utah, prairie dogs are typically what we see as kind of the culprits that have fleas that carry the plague," Baker told USA TODAY Network. "Usually prairie dogs are sick, fleas bite them and then [the plague infected fleas] bite people."

The unidentified man is the 12th case of human plague reported in the U.S. since April 1 of this year. Several of the other cases involved people who contracted the plague after visiting Yosemite National Park in California.

At least two Yosemite campsites were closed in August while officials sprayed flea treatment near rodent burrows.

Baker said anyone camping or going into rural areas can protect themselves by wearing insect repellant that contains DEET. She said animals can also become infected and should wear flea collars or be treated for fleas.

While the plague is a serious illness, it can be treated with antibiotics. The key is recognizing the symptoms and receiving treatment quickly, according to Baker.

"The symptoms really start out similarly to many other infections disease, with fever, chills and weakness," she said.

On average seven human plague cases are reported in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health Department spokeswoman Charla Haley said the "Utah man was hospitalized about five days after coming down with symptoms, and died in mid-August at the University of Utah's Hospital," the AP reported.

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