Mongolia warns of bubonic plague risk ahead of peak summer travel season

Mongolia's National Centre for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) has warned of an increased risk of bubonic plague, urging the public to take precautions as summer travel to rural areas intensifies.

The health agency said 17 of Mongolia's 21 provinces are currently considered at risk for the disease, foreign media reports.

Although hunting marmots is prohibited by law, the animals are still regarded as a delicacy by some people, and illegal hunting continues. Health authorities said the risk of infection rises during the summer months as more people travel to the countryside, where some consume marmot meat.

In previous years, Mongolia has reported several cases of bubonic plague during the summer season, including fatalities.

According to the World Health Organization, bubonic plague is a bacterial disease transmitted by fleas that live on wild rodents, including marmots. If left untreated, the disease can become fatal within 24 hours.

By Sabina Mammadli