Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
                  651-201-5414
                  Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Plague is a disease caused by Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), a bacterium found in rodents and their fleas in many areas around the world.
- Plague Facts 
 MDH fact sheet on plague, translated into 11 languages. Find out how you can get plague, how it is treated, and how it has been used as a terror weapon.
 
- CDC: Plague 
 CDC information about the disease, including geographic distribution, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
 
- Reporting Plague
 Physicians in Minnesota must report plague immediately, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 
- Infection Control
 Droplet Precautions plus eye protection, in addition to Standard Precautions, should be implemented for patients with pneumonic plague. Patients without pneumonic plague require Standard Precautions.
          Last Updated: 06/30/2025