Dozens forced into quarantine in Mongolia amid bubonic plague fears

Dozens of people were quarantined with suspected bubonic plague cases, including one boy who reportedly contracted the disease after eating a marmot. The boy reportedly displayed a high temperature after eating the animal, which is large ground squirrel.

The animal many have been hunted by a dog prior to consumption.

The boy was in Mongolia’s Bayan-Ulgii aimag province and his condition has improved, according to medical reports.

The new case comes after an infection was reported in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of Bayannur.

Dr Narangeral, head of ministry of health in Mongolia, said: “The child’s condition has improved and there are reports that the fever has dropped and the pain in the axillary glands has decreased.

“We also took full control of 34 suspects in the first contact.

“Samples from the child will be flown in at 22:00 tonight for testing at the National Center for Communicable Diseases.

“This is the second plague in our country. Cases of marmot plague have also been reported in Inner Mongolia, China.

“In this regard, Russia yesterday began to take measures to ban marmot hunting.

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“We are looking at the case numbers in China. It’s being well managed.

“At the moment, we are not considering it high risk but we’re watching it, monitoring it carefully.”

The bubonic plague is highly infectious and can be fatal.

Dubbed the “Black Death” in the Middle Ages, the disease can be transmitted by rodents.

Although currently becoming progressively rare, infections are not uncommon in China.

Russia has set up patrols to control areas that border China and Mongolia were people can hunt for marmots.

source: express.co.uk