Man dies from bubonic plague in Mongolia

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - A 24-year-old man from Tsagaan-Uul county in northern Khuvsgul province died from the bubonic plague, Mongolia's Health Ministry said on Monday.

The man had eaten marmot meat, and a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test confirmed the infection as the cause of death. Authorities have issued warnings, urging people not to consume marmot meat, Xinhua News reported.

Though marmot hunting is illegal in Mongolia, the animal is still considered a delicacy by some, and the law is frequently disregarded.

The bubonic plague is a bacterial infection transmitted by fleas on wild rodents like marmots and can be fatal within 24 hours without prompt treatment, according to the World Health Organization.

The Provincial Emergency Commission held a meeting to implement disinfection and control measures, urging residents to turn in hunted or purchased marmots for safe disposal.