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An elderly resident is the first Utahn to die of the plague in at least 35 years.
The Utah Department of Health announced the death Thursday, but declined to provide any details, including the victim's gender, age or region of the state.
"It's out of respect for the family, first and foremost, and it wouldn't change our message," said state epidemiologist JoDee Baker.
That message is this: The plague, though rare, can be contracted from the fleas of infected wild rodents anywhere in Utah.
There's been an upswing in the number of cases of plague in the western United States, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report this week that it's not clear why.
Four of the 12 people who have been sickened since April 1 have died. In a typical year, eight Americans contract the plague. In the majority of cases, it is bubonic plague.
The last reported case of plague in Utah was in 2009, but that person did not die, Baker said.
The casualty this month may have contracted the disease from a flea or contact with a dead animal.
"At this time, public health officials believe there was no travel history indicating that the Utah resident traveled anywhere else where plague is common," a Utah Department of Health news release said.
The CDC said the three others who died this year were 16, 52 and 79 years old. Nine of the 11 patients in other states were male.
The plague is contracted mostly through the bites of fleas who have bitten infected animals such as prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, rock chucks or rabbits. The risk is generally highest in rural and semi-rural areas, including campsites and homes that provide shelter for squirrels, chipmunks and wood rats. Plague is typically seen in prairie dog populations each year in Utah.
Field mice can carry the disease, but do not die from it, as other animals do.
Because fleas can hop from an infected animal, it's not enough just to avoid touching dead or sick wild animals, Baker said.
She suggests people use repellents with DEET — for skin and clothing — and permethrin — just for clothing — to repel fleas. Dogs and cats should wear flea collars or get other anti-flea treatments if they are roaming in rural areas.
Although it's even rarer than contracting the plague by flea bite, it's possible to get the plague by eating the meat of an infected animal, Baker said.
Deer and elk can be infected, so hunters should avoid animals that appear sick. They also should cook all wild meat thoroughly, she said.
Other cases this year have been reported in seven states: Arizona (two), California (one), Colorado (four), Georgia (one), New Mexico (two), and Oregon (one). The Georgia and the California cases were linked to exposures at or near Yosemite National Park.
The health department said that although the plague is serious, it is treatable with commonly available antibiotics. The earlier a patient gets good medical care, the better the chance for a full recovery.
Some common symptoms may include fever, headache, chills, and weakness. Swollen and painful lymph glands also are clues.
The health department said the investigation into the Utah resident's death continues.
Twitter: @KristenMoulton —
How to protect yourself
The Utah Department of Health suggests the following to protect pets and people from plague:
Reduce rodent habitat around your home, workplace and recreational areas. Remove brush, rock piles, junk, cluttered firewood and possible rodent food supplies, such as pet and wild animal food. Make your home and outbuildings rodent-proof.
Always wear gloves if you are handling or skinning wild animals to prevent contact between your skin and potential plague bacteria. Contact your local health department if you have questions about disposal of dead animals.
Use repellent if you think you could be exposed to rodent fleas during activities such as camping, hiking or working outdoors. Products containing DEET can be applied to the skin as well as clothing and products containing permethrin can be applied to clothing. (Follow label directions.)
Keep fleas off of your pets by regularly applying flea-control products. Animals that roam freely are more likely to come into contact with plague-infected animals or fleas and could bring them into homes. Keep pets away from wild animals. If your pet becomes sick, seek care from a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Do not allow dogs or cats that roam free outside to sleep on your bed.
Cook all wild game meat properly to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit inner temperature.
Clean and disinfect all knives and equipment used to process wild game.
Do not feed raw game meat or inner organs to pets. —
Public assistance
I Individuals who see an unusual number of dead prairie dogs, squirrels or rabbits in a given area are asked to notify the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Contact information for local area offices can be found at: http://bit.ly/DWRcontact.