FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., July 12, (AP): A resident of northern Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, health officials said Friday.

Plague is rare in humans, with an average of about seven cases reported annually in the U.S., most of them in the western states, according to federal health officials.

The death in Coconino County, which includes Flagstaff, was the first recorded death from pneumonic plague since 2007, local officials said. Further details, including the identity of the victim, were not released.

Plague is a bacterial infection known for killing tens of millions in 14th-century Europe. Today, it’s easily treated with antibiotics.

The bubonic plague is the most common form of the bacterial infection, which spreads naturally among rodents like prairie dogs and rats.

There are two other forms: septicemic plague, which spreads throughout the body, and pneumonic plague, which infects the lungs.

Pneumonic plague is the deadliest and easiest to spread.

The bacteria are transmitted through the bites of infected fleas that can spread it between rodents, pets, and humans.

People can also get plague through contact with infected bodily fluids. Health experts recommend taking extra care when handling dead or sick animals.

Most cases occur in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.