New Mexico Woman Dies from Plague; Health Alert Issued

New Mexico has reported its first human death due to plague this year, prompting the state's Department of Health to investigate the environmental risks associated with the case. The disease, carried by rodents and transmitted via flea bites or direct contact with infected animals, averages one to two human infections annually in the state. Approximately half of all U.S. plague cases occur in New Mexico.

Health officials are emphasizing community awareness and preventative measures. These include avoiding rodent habitats, managing flea populations on pets, and using insect repellent outdoors. Symptoms like sudden fever, chills, headache, and swollen lymph nodes require prompt medical attention. Antibiotics, such as gentamicin and fluoroquinolones, administered over 10-14 days in a hospital setting, are highly effective treatments for plague.

This bacterial disease has a long history, with the Black Death epidemic in the mid-14th century in Europe causing an estimated 50 million deaths. Health authorities extend condolences to the family of the deceased and stress the importance of vigilance and protective actions against plague infection.