Since the beginning of this year, four confirmed cases of bubonic plague have been reported across Mongolia, according to the country’s National Centre for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD). Of the four cases, two people have died of bubonic plague.

Yesterday (11 August), a 42-year-old man died of bubonic plague in Khovd, the westernmost Mongolian province, after skinning two marmots at home. He bought the dead marmots from an illegal hunter.

On 12 July, a 15-year-old boy died of bubonic plague in the western province of Govi-Altai. The teenager was found to have eaten marmot meat before his death.

Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease spread by fleas living on wild rodents such as marmots. It can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time, according to the World Health Organisation.