Plague still strikes: Where cases are reported today

The plague, a rare bacterial infection infamous for killing tens of millions in 14th-century Europe, still causes human cases annually, primarily in Africa and the western United States, though it is now easily treatable with antibiotics. Most human cases since the 1990s have been reported in Africa, especially Congo and Madagascar, according to the WHO. The U.S. averages about seven cases yearly, mainly in rural western areas, according to the CDC. A recent suspected plague death in Siberia prompted quarantine, though Russian authorities said tests showed no evidence of the disease. The bacterium Yersinia pestis spreads via fleas from rodents, and prompt antibiotic treatment is key to survival.