Yes, the plague can and does kill Americans, although it is rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an average of seven human plague cases annually in the US, primarily in rural areas of the western states. While potentially fatal if untreated, modern antibiotics are highly effective at treating the infection. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Details About Plague in the United States:

• Cause: The disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which circulates among wild rodents and their fleas in the Western U.S..
• Transmission: Humans are typically infected via the bite of an infected flea, or by handling infected animals.
• Fatalities: While deaths are rare due to prompt antibiotic treatment, fatal cases do occur, including recent cases in Arizona.
• Types: Bubonic plague is the most common form, while the more dangerous septicemic and pneumonic forms can be fatal if not treated quickly. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

The disease is not eradicated, but its rarity in humans means it does not present a major public health threat to the general population, notes National Geographic. [1]

Yes, the plague (caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis) can still kill Americans, though it is extremely rare today. As of early 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an average of about seven human plague cases in the U.S. each year [20, 31]. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Recent Fatalities and Cases

While modern medicine has made the disease highly treatable, deaths still occur if treatment is delayed: [1, 2, 3]

• July 2025: A resident of Coconino County, Arizona, died from pneumonic plague, the most severe and contagious form of the disease [1, 15, 16].
• March 2024: A New Mexico man died from the plague, marking the state’s first fatal case in several years [18, 32].
• Historical Context: Between 2000 and 2023, there were 15 recorded deaths from the plague in the United States [1]. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Why It Is Still Dangerous

• High Fatality Without Treatment: Untreated bubonic plague has a fatality rate of 30% to 60%, while pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal if not treated with antibiotics within 24 hours of symptom onset [1, 25].
• Endemic Regions: The disease is naturally present in wild rodent populations (like prairie dogs and ground squirrels) in the Western and Southwestern U.S., particularly in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, California, Oregon, and Nevada [1, 5, 8].
• Transmission: Humans typically contract it through the bite of an infected flea, handling infected animals, or—in the case of pneumonic plague—inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person or pet, such as a cat [1, 11, 25]. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Prevention and Treatment

Experts from Northern Arizona University emphasize that while the disease is scary, the risk to the general public remains very low [1, 6]. [1, 2]

• Antibiotics: Common antibiotics like streptomycin, gentamicin, and doxycycline are highly effective if administered early [21, 25].
• Symptoms: Look for sudden fever, chills, headache, and—specifically for the bubonic form—painful, swollen lymph nodes (buboes) [23, 25].
• Safety Tips: Avoid handling sick or dead wildlife, use flea control for pets, and use insect repellent containing DEET when hiking or camping in endemic areas