ULAN BATOR, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's National Center for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) on Monday issued a warning about the risk of bubonic plague, urging the public to take precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.
Although hunting marmots is prohibited by law in Mongolia, the animal is still considered a delicacy by some people, and illegal hunting continues.
The summer season poses a heightened risk of infection in Mongolia as more people travel to rural areas for recreation, where some consume marmot meat. In previous years, several cases of bubonic plague, including fatalities, have been reported during this period.
According to the NCZD, 17 of Mongolia's 21 provinces are currently considered at risk for bubonic plague.
The World Health Organization says 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. ■