Mongolia has confirmed a case of bubonic plague in its western Khovd province after laboratory tests returned positive, with health officials linking the infection to the consumption of marmot meat…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Mongolia has confirmed a case of bubonic plague in the country’s western Khovd province after final laboratory tests returned positive, prompting health authorities to issue fresh warnings against hunting or consuming marmots and handling wild rodents.
The National Centre for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) said the patient contracted the disease after eating marmot meat during a visit to Ulaankhus soum in the neighbouring Bayan-Ulgii province.
The health agency urged the public not to hunt or capture marmots, handle their meat or internal organs, or come into contact with dead or sick rodents, warning that such activities significantly increase the risk of infection.
Although hunting marmots is prohibited under Mongolian law, the animals continue to be regarded as a delicacy in some parts of the country, and illegal hunting remains widespread.
Health officials said the risk of plague transmission typically rises during the summer months, when more people travel to rural areas and some consume marmot meat. Mongolia has recorded several bubonic plague cases during previous summers, including infections that proved fatal.
According to the NCZD, 17 of Mongolia’s 21 provinces are currently classified as plague-risk areas.
The latest case follows three confirmed bubonic plague infections reported in September last year, including two in Khuvsgul province.
Those patients were treated at Khuvsgul Provincial General Hospital, while 80 people identified as close contacts were isolated and received treatment at local hospitals to prevent further spread.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bubonic plague is a bacterial disease transmitted by fleas that live on wild rodents, including marmots. If left untreated, the infection can become fatal within 24 hours.
The WHO notes that although plague caused devastating pandemics throughout history, including the Black Death that killed more than 50 million people in Europe during the 14th century, the disease is now treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed early and managed using standard preventive measures.
The UN health agency also says plague is found on every continent except Oceania, with most human infections reported since the 1990s occurring in Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and Peru remain the three countries where the disease is most endemic.
