Chinese authorities have issued a warning against eating marmot after a case of bubonic plague was confirmed in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The health committee of the city of Bayan Nur issued the third-level alert, which is the second-lowest in a four-level system.

A local hospital in the city of Bayan Nur alerted the municipal authorities of a suspected plague patient on Saturday, according to the local health commission. 

The patient, who remains unidentified, was later confirmed as a bubonic plague infection, based on a statement released by the authorities.

The government also issued a level three warning for epidemic control throughout the city.

China announces a level 3 warning whenever a city has detected between one to 20 plague infections.

Bubonic plague, known as the ‘Black Death’, is one of the most devastating diseases in history.

The Medieval disease is responsible for killing around 100 million people worldwide and wiping out around 60% of the entire Europe population.

It kills up to two thirds of sufferers within just four days if it is not treated, although if antibiotics are administered within 24 hours of infection patients are highly likely to survive.