China seals off village in Inner Mongolia after Bubonic plague death, issues Level 3 alert

The death was reported Sunday in Baotou city, and the victim was confirmed to be a Bubonic plague patient Thursday. Authorities didn’t say how the victim contracted the plague.

A woman walks through the main square in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China, on 11 August 2020 (representational image) | Qilai Shen | Bloomberg

New Delhi: China has sealed off a village in Baotou city in Inner Mongolia after a resident died of the deadly Bubonic plague — the second case reported from the country since July.

“The death was reported to health authorities in Baotou city on Sunday and the victim was confirmed to be a Bubonic plague patient on Thursday,” a CNN report stated.

The Baotou city administration posted a notice on its website, stating that Suji Xincun village — where the deceased lived — has been sealed and disinfected. 

The administration also said in the notice that the patient had died of a circulatory system failure, but did not mention how the patient contracted the disease.

Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that is spread by fleas living on wild rodents such as marmots. It can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Another report mentioned that nine close contacts and 26 secondary contacts, who have tested negative for the disease, have been quarantined.

Characterised by painful, swollen lymph nodes, as well as fever, chills, and coughing, Bubonic plague is one of the three forms of plague.

Alert issued, tourists spots shut

The Baotou authorities have also issued a warning of a risk of “a human plague epidemic spreading in the city”, and had urged citizens to take extra precautions. 

The advisory also mentioned that citizens should seek immediate medical attention if they exhibited symptoms of fever or coughing.

Additionally, citizens were advised to reduce contact with wild animals while traveling and avoid hunting, skinning or eating animals that could become a cause of infection.

The death in Baotou has led the administration to also issue a ‘Level 3 alert’ and shut down several tourist spots in the region.

Since this plague has not been eliminated entirely and has surfaced again as witnessed in China, the WHO has categorised it as a re-emerging disease.

The infection of Bubonic plague can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed in time.

Reports stated: “According to 2016 data, the possibility of plague exists on almost every continent, especially the western United States, parts of Brazil, scattered areas in southeast Africa and large swaths of China, India and the Middle East.”