Ulan Bator, Aug 26 (IANS) – Authorities in Mongolia have issued a bubonic plague warning following the discovery of 22 dead marmots, raising concerns over a potential outbreak in the capital city, Ulan Bator.
According to the Ecological Police Department, the carcasses were seized last week from a vehicle traveling from the country’s western provinces to the capital. In response, police and health inspectors have intensified round-the-clock checks at all entry points to Ulan Bator to curb any possible spread of the disease.
The National Centre for Zoonotic Diseases has identified 137 soums (administrative subdivisions) across 17 provinces as high-risk zones for the plague, Xinhua news agency reported.
Bubonic plague is a bacterial infection transmitted primarily by fleas on wild rodents such as marmots. The World Health Organization warns that, if left untreated, it can kill an adult in under 24 hours.
Historically referred to as the “Black Death,” the plague devastated Europe in the Middle Ages, killing more than 25 million people — nearly two-thirds of the population at the time. Victims often developed blackened tissue due to gangrene, giving rise to the disease’s infamous name.
Although effective treatments are available today, the plague has not been eradicated. Sporadic cases still occur worldwide, including in Africa, Asia, South America, and parts of western North America. The US reports an average of seven cases annually, mostly among people aged 12 to 45.
Health officials in Mongolia are urging the public to avoid contact with wild rodents and fleas to reduce infection risk, as prevention remains the most effective safeguard against the deadly disease.