A New Mexico man died of bubonic plague.
In a statement released Friday, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announced the death of an unidentified man from Lincoln County.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the Lincoln County man who succumbed to the plague,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps, DVM, MPH. “This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the threat posed by this ancient disease and highlights the need for increased community awareness and proactive measures to prevent its spread.”
According to NMDOH, the man’s death is the first reported case of bubonic plague in New Mexico since 2021 and the first fatality since 2020, when there were four reported human cases of plague in the state.
The organization said it is contacting area residents to monitor the potential spread of the disease and assess the environment in the community to identify any ongoing risk.
Illustration of the plague. Getty
Bubonic plague “is a bacterial disease of rodents and is generally spread to humans through the bites of infected fleas,” NMDOH said, adding that symptoms in humans include fever, chills, headache or weakness. Patients also often experience “painful swelling of a lymph node in the groin, armpit, or neck.”
According to the CDC, “People usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that carries the plague bacteria or after handling an animal infected with plague.”
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According to the NMDOH, it can also be transmitted to people who have had direct contact with an infected animal, including dogs or cats that are allowed to hunt outside the home. To avoid illness, department officials recommend people stay away from sick or dead rodents and rabbits and the areas where they live.
Symptoms of plague in animals, however, can include elevated body temperature, lethargy and loss of appetite, NMDOH said, adding that to prevent the spread of plague in their household, owners should regularly talk to their pet’s veterinarian about flea control, maintain keep their living spaces clean and see a doctor if you experience symptoms.
Oregon’s first case of bubonic plague in nearly 10 years may have been transmitted by a cat
In February, an Oregonian experienced symptoms of the plague. The disease was likely transmitted by a “severely ill” cat, NBC News reported.
The patient in that case “responded very well to antibiotic treatment,” Dr. Richard Fawcett, health officer for Deschutes County, Oregon, told the newspaper.
It was the first reported human case in the state in a decade.
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Source: HIS Education