The Return of the Black Death: Bubonic plague claimed a victim in new Mexico was the first human death from the disease in state and since 2020. His name has not been released yet, but the New Mexico Department of Health announced on Friday that as a result he was first taken to hospital and died in there, too.
Erin Phipps, State Public Health Veterinarian said: “We send our most sincere condolences to the family of the Lincoln County man who succumbed to plague.”
The Return of the Black Death
Phipps called the incident a reminder of the threat posed by this ancient disease and stressed the necessity for increased community awareness and preventive actions who strive to contain it.
The circumstances surrounding how the man contracted the disease remain unclear. The last human plague death in New Mexico occurred in 2020, but according to the health agency the most recent indication of a case dates back to 2021 in Torrance County.
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Bubonic Plague
After all, bubonic plague is a bacterial infection transmitted by bites from an infected flea; it can also spread through contact with infected animals, however, including rodents, pets and wildlife. The health department will reportedly be involved in an outreach program in this area and will begin environmental assessment in order to confirm whether there is continuing danger that members of the public face at risk.
People with bubonic plague have a sudden fever, chills, headache, general weakness, and painful swelling of lymph nodes in various local regions.
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How to prevent bubonic plague?
Responsible health authorities recommend that residents avoid sick or dead rodents, rabbits, and their burrows, keep pets from roaming and hunting, and keep pet food and water away from wild animals.
Pet owners are advised to ask veterinarians about safe flea control products for their pets, and any pets showing sick signs should be examined by a vet as soon as possible. People suffering from sudden and severe fever and unexplained discomfort of an unusual nature need urgently to get medical help.
The case comes after an Oregon resident was reported to have contracted the plague from their cat.
In February, Deschutes County Health Services chemotherapy that a patient under his care had caught Bubonic plague, almost certainly from their sick pet cat. Luckily it was diagnosed early, treated, and did not pose a hazard to the community, according to the health services.
