ULAN BATOR, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A suspected case of bubonic plague in Mongolia's western Khovd province has been confirmed after final bacteriological laboratory testing returned positive results, the National Center for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) said on Friday.
According to the NCZD, the patient contracted the disease after consuming marmot meat while visiting Ulaankhus soum in the neighboring Bayan-Ulgii province.
The center urged the public not to hunt or capture marmots, handle their meat or internal organs, or come into contact with dead or sick rodents, warning that such activities significantly increase the risk of infection.
Although hunting marmots is prohibited by law in Mongolia, the animals are still regarded as a delicacy by some people, and illegal hunting continues.
The risk of plague transmission typically increases during the summer months, when more people travel to rural areas and some consume marmot meat. In previous years, Mongolia has reported several cases of bubonic plague during this period, including fatal infections.
The NCZD said that 17 of Mongolia's 21 provinces are currently classified as plague-risk areas.
According to the World Health Organization, bubonic plague is a bacterial disease transmitted by fleas that live on wild rodents, including marmots. If left untreated, the disease can become fatal within 24 hours. ■
