Health News 2015: Michigan Gets First Reported Case of Bubonic Plague Infection

Michigan has confirmed its first reported case of a person being infected with the bubonic plague.

The patient from the state's Marquette County, whose identity was not revealed, marks the 14^th case related to the plague in the U.S. this year.

According to the state's Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the patient did not get the disease in Michigan. As confirmed in the report, the patient came from an area in Colorado which was found to have bubonic plague activity.

Last month, a person from Colorado's Pueblo County died after being infected by the plague which came from the fleas of a dead dog in Turkey Creek, Newsweek reported.

Representatives from the Marquette County Health Department (MCHD) noted that the patient is currently recovering from the illness. The department also assured the public that there is no danger of the disease transferring to other individuals.

"Theoretically, the illness can move to bloodstream or to a lung infection, but this [Michigan] individual had localized infection, so there's no concern about transmission," Dr. Terry Frankovich, the MCHD's medical director said according to the Detroit Free Press.

The bacterial infection from the latest case is still connected to the bubonic plague that appeared during the 14 century. Dubbed as the Black Death pandemic, the plague swept across various continents and killed around 50 million individuals.

Despite its association with the deadly pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that today's bubonic plague is not as fatal as the one that appeared during the Middle Ages, CNN reported.

According to the agency, the infection, if detected early, can be easily cured using antibiotics, antimicrobials and other forms of modern medicine.

But, this does not mean that public can ignore the threat of the bubonic plague. This year alone, four people of the 14 confirmed cases in the U.S. have already died due to the disease. Experts warned that the plague spreads through bites of infected animals and insects including fleas.

People who are most susceptible to the plague are the ones who frequently travel to outdoor areas. To prevent being infected with the disease, people are advised to wear long and thick clothing and regularly apply insect repellant on their skin.

They should also make sure that their pets are receiving regular treatments against fleas. In addition, when travelling, they should first consult the CDC's website regarding areas with reported plague cases.