A case of bubonic plague has been confirmed in Mongolia's western Khovd province following positive bacteriological laboratory results, the National Centre for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) announced on Friday, 25 July. The patient reportedly contracted the disease after consuming marmot meat during a visit to Ulaankhus soum in the neighbouring Bayan-Ulgii province.

How the Infection Occurred

According to the NCZD, the confirmed case is directly linked to the consumption of marmot meat — a practice that remains prevalent in some parts of Mongolia despite a legal ban on marmot hunting. Health authorities have urged the public to avoid hunting or capturing marmots, handling their meat or internal organs, or coming into contact with dead or sick rodents, warning that such activities significantly raise infection risk.

Although marmot hunting is prohibited under Mongolian law, the animals continue to be regarded as a delicacy by some communities, and illegal hunting persists in rural regions.

Scale of the Risk Across Mongolia

The NCZD has classified 17 of Mongolia's 21 provinces as active plague-risk zones. The threat intensifies during summer months, when increased travel to rural areas coincides with higher rates of marmot consumption. Mongolia has recorded multiple bubonic plague cases in previous years during this seasonal window, including infections that proved fatal.

In September last year, authorities confirmed three bubonic plague cases, with two originating in Khuvsgul Province. Those patients were treated at the Khuvsgul provincial general hospital, and 80 people who had been in contact with the infected individuals were isolated and placed under medical observation at local facilities.

What the WHO Says About Bubonic Plague

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), bubonic plague is a bacterial disease transmitted through flea bites from infected wild rodents, including marmots. If left untreated, the infection can turn fatal within 24 hours. However, the WHO notes that the disease is now readily treatable with antibiotics when caught early, and standard preventive measures are effective in containing its spread.

Plague is found on all continents except Oceania. The majority of human cases recorded since the 1990s have been in Africa, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru identified as the three most endemic countries. Historically, plague caused some of humanity's deadliest pandemics — most notably the Black Death, which killed over 50 million people in Europe during the fourteenth century.

Authorities' Advisory to the Public

The NCZD has reiterated its public health advisory, calling on citizens and travellers to strictly avoid contact with wild rodents and to refrain from consuming marmot meat. Health officials warn that the combination of summer travel patterns and continued illegal hunting creates conditions for further transmission. Mongolia's authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the high-risk season continues.