A teenage boy has died of the bubonic plague in Mongolia sparking fears of a spread of the deadly disease.
The 15-year-old, from the province of province of Govi-Alta who has not been named, is understood to have contracted the black death from eating marmot meat with two friends.
Dozens of people who have been in contact with him have now been put in isolation, reports MailOnline.
He died three days after eating the rodent meat, according to reports and his contacts have been reached to stop a potential spread.
Bubonic plague is spread by fleas living on rodents and can kill within a day if not treated.
It caused devastation in the 14th century killing up to 200 million people.
A neighbouring province has reported two cases of the disease recently and a couple died of the plague last year in Mongolia after eating marmot meat.
A confirmed case in China has been isolated it is understood.
The Mongolian health ministry has now warned of the danger of eating marmots.
It was 'very important not to hunt marmots' or eat the meat, said senior official Dorj Narangerel.
He said: 'The marmot plague is very toxic. We urge you to pay special attention to the fact that the pulmonary form of the disease is just as rapid as the coronavirus infection - but it is a disease that can kill people very quickly.'
