A suspected case of bubonic plague in Mongolia’s western Khovd province has been confirmed following positive results from final bacteriological laboratory testing. The National Centre for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) stated that the patient contracted the disease after consuming marmot meat while visiting Ulaankhus soum in the neighbouring Bayan-Ulgii province. The centre has advised the public against hunting or handling marmots, as such activities significantly raise the risk of infection.
The risk of plague transmission typically rises during summer months as more people travel to rural areas and consume marmot meat. Mongolia has previously reported several cases of bubonic plague during this period, some of which were fatal. Currently, 17 of Mongolia’s 21 provinces are classified as plague-risk areas.
In September last year, three bubonic plague cases were confirmed, with two from Khuvsgul Province. The patients were treated at the Khuvsgul provincial general hospital, while 80 individuals who had contact with them were isolated and received treatment at local hospitals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that bubonic plague, a bacterial disease transmitted by fleas living on wild rodents like marmots, can be fatal within 24 hours if untreated.
WHO notes that while plague has caused historical pandemics, it can now be easily treated with antibiotics and preventive measures. The disease is found on all continents except Oceania, with most cases since the 1990s occurring in Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru are the most endemic countries for plague.
