First Ever Case of Bubonic Plague Confirmed in Michigan

State health officials say that the first documented case of the Bubonic Plague has been confirmed in Michigan.

The disease is deadly, but officials tell the Detroit Free Press that the Marquette County adult is recovering. (S)he contracted the flea-borne illness during a recent trip to Colorado.

The organism that causes the Bubonic Plague is closely related to the one that caused what is known as the Black Death Plague in the 1300s, but Dr. Terry Frankovich, medical director for the Marquette County Health Department says there's no cause for concern.

"Theoretically, the illness can move to bloodstream or to a lung infection, but this (Michigan) individual had localized infection, so there’s no concern about transmission."

On average, seven cases of Bubonic Plague are reported each year in the US, according to the CDC.