A 24-year-old man in Mongolia has died of the plague after eating marmot meat, the country’s Health Ministry confirmed.
The man, from Khovsgol province, fell gravely ill shortly after consuming the animal. Despite emergency treatment, doctors were unable to save him. Lab tests later confirmed the infection was plague-related.
Hunting marmots is banned in Mongolia due to the grave risk they pose, as these animals carry deadly bacteria. Authorities urgently warn that eating marmot meat can have life-threatening consequences, yet these warnings are still frequently ignored.
According to the World Health Organization, plague is typically transmitted to humans by fleas that live on wild rodents. Without immediate medical attention, the disease can be fatal within hours.
Local health officials are urgently warning residents that consuming marmot meat can be fatal, urging everyone to avoid risking their lives for culinary reasons.
Mongolia previously declared a quarantine after recent cases involving marmot meat, resulting in two people being hospitalized.
