Singapore: Parts of northwestern city of Yemen have been quarantined due to a bubonic plague scare, sparked by the death of a local resident.

The 38-year-old victim died last Wednesday after being bitten by a wild rodent, Marmot. The victim developed plague symptoms within a few days of the bite and eventually died of the disease.

The incident has led to several cities and districts of China being sealed, in order to curb the spread.

According to a news report, 151 people who have come into direct contact with the victim were also isolated but they have not shown any signs of infection yet.

WHO says that while the plague can be effectively treated, patients can die within 24 hours of being infected. Reports indicate that bubonic plague outbreaks in China have been rare and that it, mostly occurs in remote rural areas of the country's western regions.

The health Ministry said that though the risk of the disease spreading to the capital was very minimal, still strict surveillance and adequate precautions were necessary to effectively contain the spread of the disease.