In the middle ages they would fill the pockets of plague victims with flowers to cover the stench, and they burned the dead to 'prevent' the plague's spread.
She works in the veterinary field and has repeated exposure over several months now, to a dog which just tested positive for the black plague. The CDC is all over it. (waiting patiently for confirmation test results.)
I've been assured the odds of her having contracted it are akin to being struck by lightning the day you win the lottery.