But the bubonic plague never went away entirely. It still exists today. The World Health Organization reports that in 2013 there were 783 cases worldwide; 126 people died.35 About ten people contract the disease in the United States every year. If you have been out hiking in a dry area like the American Southwest and find egg-shaped growths developing under your armpit, it is exceedingly important that you go to a doctor within twenty-four hours.
