Man dies from bubonic plague as authorities search for 'ongoing risk'
Authorities and health officials have scrambled to investigate a community after a man contracted the plague and died from it.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has confirmed the death of a man in Lincoln County due to plague, marking the first human case of the disease in the state since 2021 and the first fatality since 2020. The man, who hasn't been identified yet, died after being hospitalised for the disease.
The circumstances under which he contracted it and details about how his health deteriorated remain unknown. The NMDOH said that staff are conducting "outreach to area residents" as well as an "environmental assessment" in the community to look for any "ongoing risk".
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Symptoms of plague in humans include sudden fever, chills, headache, weakness, and painful swelling of lymph nodes (Getty Images)State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and stressed the urgent need for heightened awareness and measures to curb the spread of this ancient disease. Plague, a bacterial infection primarily affecting rodents, is typically transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas.
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It can also spread through direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife, and pets. Erin said: "We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the Lincoln County man who succumbed to plague."
She added: "This tragic incident serves as a clear reminder of the threat posed by this ancient disease and emphasises the need for heightened community awareness and proactive measures to prevent its spread."
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Symptoms of plague in humans include sudden fever, chills, headache, weakness, and painful swelling of lymph nodes in various areas of the body. Pets, particularly dogs and cats, may also exhibit symptoms such as fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and swelling in the lymph nodes.
To mitigate the risk of plague transmission, the NMDOH recommends avoiding contact with sick or dead rodents, preventing pets from roaming and hunting, using appropriate flea control products on pets, promptly seeking veterinary care for sick pets, and maintaining cleanliness in areas prone to rodent habitation.
An average of seven human plague cases have been reported in the US each year since 2000, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most human cases occur in Northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado, as well as in California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada.
The most recent human case of plague in New Mexico was reported in 2021 in Torrance County. In 2020, there were four human cases, including one in Santa Fe County, two in Torrance County, and one fatal case in Rio Arriba County.
The plague was first introduced to the US in 1900 by rat-infested steamships that had sailed from affected areas, mostly from Asia, causing epidemics mainly in port cities. The last urban plague epidemic in the country happened in Los Angeles from 1924 to 1925.
Physicians suspecting cases of plague are urged to report to the New Mexico Department of Health. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics significantly reduce the mortality rate associated with plague in both humans and pets.
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