The bacteria Yersinia pestis can be transmitted to humans by rats infected with fleas. (Representative)
Beijing:
Authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia in China have stepped up their precautions after a shepherd was confirmed this weekend as suffering from bubonic plague.
The man was in stable condition in a hospital in Bayannur, the city health commission said in a statement.
The commission banned the hunting and consumption of animals likely to carry the plague – especially groundhogs – until the end of the year, and urged people to report any dead or sick rodents.
The bacteria Yersinia pestis can be transmitted to humans by rats infected with fleas.
Although the highly contagious plague is rare in China and can be treated, at least five people have died since 2014, according to the Chinese National Health Commission.
Another suspected case involving a 15-year-old boy was reported in neighboring Mongolia on Monday, the Chinese news agency Xinhua said.
The boy had a fever after eating a groundhog chased by a dog, Xinhua said.
Two other cases were confirmed last week in the Mongolian province of Khovd involving brothers who had eaten groundhog meat, the agency added.
Some 146 people who came into contact with the couple were quarantined.
(This story has not been edited by GalacticGaming staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
