Arizona resident dies from pneumonic plague, health officials say
Health officials in Coconino county, which incorporates part of the Grand Canyon national park and lies north of Flagstaff, confirmed the death on 11 July.
Pneumonic plague, a severe lung infection, is rare in humans, with only about seven cases reported annually in the US. Unlike bubonic plague, which killed millions in medieval Europe, it can be spread through airborne droplets.
While both are caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium, bubonic plague is transmitted through rodent flea bites or contact with contaminated material – and it primarily affects the lymph nodes while pneumonic plague causes pneumonia and respiratory symptoms.
Authorities said the person, whose age, name and gender have not been released, had entered the Flagstaff Medical Center emergency department and died on the same day.
Hospital operator Northern Arizona Healthcare said in a statement that 'despite appropriate initial management and attempts to provide life-saving resuscitation, the patient did not recover'.
The death of the Coconino county resident marks the first recorded pneumonic plague death in the county in 18 years but not the most recent human plague case in Arizona – the state has recorded seven cases of plague since 2006.
Nationally, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about seven human cases of plague are reported annually across the country, but only 15 plague deaths have been recorded in a 23-year period beginning in 2000. Most cases have been seen in rural areas in the west.
Typically, the CDC says, Yersinia pestis cycles naturally among wild rodents. And while most people contract the disease though flea bites, they can become infected through exposure to sick pets, especially cats.
The plague death comes as officials in the county are investigating a sudden die-off of prairie dogs north-east of Flagstaff that may be caused by plague. County officials have said they do not think the human plague death and the prairie dog mortalities are related.
But they also issued guidelines about how to avoid contracting the plague, including avoiding contact with wild animals, touching sick or dead animals, camping near rodent burrows, or sleeping directly on the ground. They advise using insect repellent and tucking the cuffs of your trouser leg into your socks.
Coconino county health officials said the risk of human-to-human transmission of pneumonic plague is low. The last such transmission was in Los Angeles in 1924, according to National Institutes of Health (NIH) data.
Still, the symptoms of the Black Death – named for black spots that appeared on infected bodies – remain present. US health officials say plague symptoms typically appear within eight days after exposure and may include fever, chills, headache, weakness and muscle pain, and some may develop swollen lymph nodes (called 'buboes'), most commonly in the groin, armpits or limbs.
But the timing of the human plague death, and the prairie dog die-off, is raising concerns. Plague is one of many diseases endemic to the south-western US, including West Nile virus, hantavirus and rabies.
Trish Lees, communications manager for Coconino county, told the Arizona Republic the number of prairie dogs that have died was unknown.
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Before your appointment, make notes about: Bothersome symptoms Medical and family history Current medications Any recent test results that might be relevant At the same time, "think about your goals and preferences — are you open to hormone therapy? Do you want lifestyle-focused recommendations?" says Noble. "Having clarity going in makes the visit far more productive." Once you're on, ask what to expect from treatment, what to do if side effects come up and whether follow-ups are built in. "Patients should ask whether the provider will monitor for effectiveness and communicate with their existing care team," says Faubion. "Also ask if they'll review or order routine screenings like mammograms and Pap smears, and follow up on the results if needed." The more you bring to the table, the more useful and personalized your virtual visit will be. Best menopause telehealth clinics to consider There are a lot of online menopause clinics out there so finding the right one takes some effort. While this is in no way a complete list, here are a handful that we think are worth looking into: Midi Health Midi earns an impressive "Excellent" rating from Trustpilot and is staffed by clinicians trained specifically in menopause and midlife health. They accept insurance (including Medicare in some states), offer built-in follow-up and care coordination and allow prescriptions to be filled at the pharmacy of your choice. Plus, Midi is available in all 50 states. While most reviewers praise Midi's care and service — including Carolyn, above — one Trustpilot user noted it may be better suited for those seeking hormone therapy. "I have a special circumstance of a blood clot disorder, so unfortunately HRT isn't helpful for me," she wrote. "I felt they really focused on pushing hormones." MyMenopauseRx While not as wide-reaching as Midi, MyMenopauseRX (available in 29 states) offers appointments with certified menopause specialists, they accept insurance and allow patients to fill prescriptions at their preferred pharmacy. The fact that "Rx" is in the name is a little off-putting — and some reviewers do feel like HRT is being heavily promoted — however, most of their Google reviews are positive, with one noting: "The level of compassion and care was impeccable. I wasn't treated like a number." Gennev Available in all 50 states and accepted by insurance, Gennev offers virtual visits with board-certified, menopause-trained doctors who. if needed, can recommend follow-up care with menopause-trained dietitians or mental health specialists. And prescriptions be filled by outside pharmacies. While they do sell some branded wellness products, this isn't central to their operation. Gennev's limited Trustpilot reviews leave a lot to be desired, but feedback in Real Patient Reviews is stellar. Maven Clinic Maven Clinic is not quite like the others. While it does deliver online menopause care, it's through your employer and health plan benefits. That means you can't sign up directly unless it's offered through your job. But if it is, you get access to menopause-trained ob-gyns, NPs, therapists, pelvic floor physical therapists, nutritionists and more. Right now, Maven's menopause program is offered by around 40 employers (including Amazon, BuzzFeed and, yes, Yahoo). If it's part of your benefits, it's a strong option to consider. As one Reddit user noted: "My Maven doctor was the first doctor to actually listen to me!" Menopause telehealth: What to keep in mind moving forward Samantha S. of Studio City, Calif., started her HRT journey with Midi Health after a colleague referral turned into a symptom breakthrough: "I don't think I would have addressed my symptoms or started HRT if I hadn't discovered Midi," she says. "They educated me, enabled me to jump in, figure out what I needed and get started with treatment ASAP." Telehealth got her in the door — but after a couple of years, she made the switch to in-person care with a gynecologist. "I ultimately just felt like she had more experience and knowledge, and preferred working with an MD who had a higher level of training," Samantha S. says. Her doctor helped fine-tune her treatment, adjusting dosage and delivery to better suit her needs. Noble isn't totally surprised. "Forming a trusted partnership between patient and healthcare provider is extremely important in an area of medicine like menopausal care, that is truly so nuanced and individualized," she says. "And it's simply more challenging to build that trust via telemedicine — but that doesn't mean it can't work." In the end, virtual menopause care can be a powerful starting point — one that gets you answers faster and helps you feel seen. But staying open to in-person expertise — especially as your care evolves — can make all the difference to your long-term results and experience as you navigate this phase of life. Meet the experts Stephanie Faubion, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women's Health in Jacksonville, Fla., and medical director of the Menopause Society Sherry Ross, MD, ob-gyn at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period. Robin Noble, MD, a gynecologist in Portland, Maine, and chief medical adviser at Let's Talk Menopause, a nonprofit working to improve menopause care Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
Gizmodo
8 minutes ago
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A Rare Flu Complication Is Killing More U.S. Children
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