Ad
Featured
Human plague reported in NM for first time this year
Published
Modified
New Mexico has reported the first case of the human plague this year, according to state health officials.
On Monday, the New Mexico Department of Health reported a 43-year-old man from Valencia County has been diagnosed with the plague. He was hospitalized and has since been discharged, according to NMDOH spokesperson Robert Nott.
“He recently spent time camping in Rio Arriba County, where he may have been exposed,” Nott wrote in a news release. “Plague is known to circulate among wildlife throughout the western United States.”
The last reported human plague case was in 2024, when a Lincoln County resident died from the disease.
Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents and is typically transmitted to people through infected flea bites. Infected animals, like wildlife or pets, can also transmit the disease through direct contact.
Symptoms of plague in humans include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache and weakness. Dogs and cats may experience a fever, lethargy or a loss of appetite. Swelling of lymph nodes is also a symptom of the disease for both people and animals.
For humans, swelling is typically in the groin, armpit or neck. Animals may have lymph node swelling under their jaw.
“This case reminds us of the severe threat that can be posed by this ancient disease,” said Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian for NMDOH. “It also emphasizes the need for heightened community awareness and for taking measures to prevent further spread.”
