Arizona resident dies of pneumonic plague, the first deadly case in area in nearly 20 years

Arizona resident dies of pneumonic plague, the first deadly case in area in nearly 20 years

The disease, once responsible for killing millions during the Black Death of the 14th century, is now rare in the US and treatable with antibiotics

A resident of Arizona died of pneumonic plague, becoming the first person to succumb to the disease in the area in nearly 20 years, according to officials. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

The plague is commonly transmitted through flea bites from wild rodents. (Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

An etching called "The Plague Victims of Rome." The Black Death killed millions of people in Europe in the 14th century. (Ken Welsh/Design Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)