A case of the bubonic plague has been discovered in the inland autonomous region of Mongolia, according to Chinese authorities.
The bubonic plague, better known for its role during the Black Death that killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, is a bacteria transmitted through insect or animal bites that causes painful swelling of the lymph nodes with fevers, chills, and coughing.
The recent case was discovered in the city of Bayannur, northwest of Beijing, which has been issued a Level 3 warning for plague prevention that is likely to remain until the end of the year. Local authorities are encouraging residents to take extra precautions to limit human-to-human transmission and hunting or eating animals that may spread the disease, according to CNN.
Mongolian residents have also been asked to stop eating the meat of marmots and report to authorities if they find sick or dead marmots. The marmot is a ground squirrel typically found in Chinese and Mongolian regions and has been historically responsible for plague outbreaks in the area.
Though the bubonic plague ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages, modern antibiotics can easily prevent complications if administered in a timely manner.