NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Department of Health announced a Santa Fe County woman has died from plague. NMDOH said this is the first case of human plague in New Mexico in 2026.
NMDOH will work to conduct an environmental assessment to determine any ongoing risks and will reach out to close contacts of the woman to confirm no one else has plague symptoms. According to NMDOH, plague is a bacterial disease carried by rodents and is generally transmitted through the bites of infected fleas from wild rodents or household pets. It can also be transmitted through contact with infected animals or humans with plague in their lungs can transmit it through coughing. Plague symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headache, and weakness. There may also be swelling of the lymph node in the groin, armpit or neck areas. |