Ore. man survives "black death" plague (GRAPHIC IMAGES)

This photo supplied by the Gaylord family taken July 5, 2012, at a hospital in Bend, Ore., shows Paul Gaylord as he recovers from the plague.

Treatment consists of hospitalization, antibiotics and medical isolation. If untreated, plague bacteria can multiply in the bloodstream. If the lungs are infected, the person gets the pneumonia form of the plague, creating problems in the respiratory system. Both types can be fatal, and about 1 in 7 cases in the U.S. end in death.

On average, 10 to 20 people are diagnosed with the disease each year in the U.S., with worldwide rates reported at 1,000 to 3,000 cases a year.

Credit: AP Photo/The Gaylord Family