One Already Dead From Terrifying Virus In Arizona

Five years removed, America is still reeling from the massive COVID-19 Pandemic. The virus literally changed the way the world works, for better or for worse.

We still haven't recovered completely from the devastation caused, and now Arizona is quickly moving into patient zero for something much, much worse.

Flagstaff: Patient Zero

In early July, Flagstaff was rocked by the mass death of Prairie Dogs across Coconino County. Experts immediately began to worry, as a mass death of any kind of rodent is a surefire sign of one thing: The Plague. This isn't a new disease, it famously killed a third of Europe in the mid-12th-Century, and now it seems like it's coming back with a vengeance.

This is an incredibly deadly disease, being transmitted by infected fleas to any animal they can get their hands on. It's bad enough for animals like dogs and cats, but it gets apocalyptic when introduced to humans, who can spread the virus between communities quickly, and with almost no notice.

First Sign of the Plague in Arizona

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The First Casualty

On July 10th, the plague claimed its first victim in Arizona. A man was rushed to Flagstaff Medical Center in incredible pain. He was showing severe symptoms, and within a day, he was pronounced deceased.

This isn't the first case of the Plague in Flagstaff, one was reported in 1996, and 2007, 2014, and 2015 each had their own confirmed cases, when fleas in the area discovered to be harboring the virus. For the time being, use insect repellant and long pants when outdoors, and groom your pets to ensure they have not been infected with a flea.

[FOX10][The Independent]