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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Third Plague Case of Year Confirmed in New Mexico
Associated Press
SANTA FE — State health officials say they've confirmed a third case of bubonic plague in New Mexico.
All three cases this year have been in Santa Fe County and include an 8-year-old boy who died last week. His 10-year-old sister recovered.
The case announced on Wednesday by the New Mexico Department of Health involved a 56-year-old man. He was hospitalized but is now recovering at home.
Public health veterinarian Dr. Paul Ettestad said all three people who came down with the disease were bitten by fleas.
Plague is a bacterial infection that commonly infects rodents. It is most often transmitted by fleas, but can come from infected animals.
There was only one plague case in the state last year, but five cases and one fatality were reported in 2007.
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