By Sarah Begley
State officials say Michigan has its first-ever bubonic plague patient, though the person reportedly caught the disease in Colorado.
The patient, whose identity has not been revealed, apparently contracted the disease from a flea bite in Colorado, which has seen several cases of the plague this year. The disease never developed into the more-contagious pneumonic plague, which can be transmitted between humans, and the victim is said to be recovering, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The CDC says only seven people contract the plague in the U.S. each year on average, though this year has seen a spike: 14 cases have already cropped up, killing four.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com