WASHINGTON, March 12, (Agencies); A man in New Mexico has succumbed to the bubonic plague, as announced by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) in a statement released on Friday. The deceased individual, hailing from Lincoln County, remains unidentified.

State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps, DVM, MPH, expressed condolences to the family of the Lincoln County man and emphasized the significance of recognizing the ongoing threat posed by this ancient disease. Phipps stressed the importance of heightened community awareness and proactive measures to prevent the spread of the bubonic plague.

This unfortunate incident marks the first reported human case of the bubonic plague in New Mexico since 2021 and the first related death since 2020. In 2020, the state witnessed four reported human cases of the plague.

NMDOH is actively reaching out to residents in the area to trace the potential spread of the disease. The organization is also conducting assessments of the community environment to identify any lingering risks.

The bubonic plague, classified as a bacterial disease affecting rodents, primarily spreads to humans through the bites of infected fleas. Symptoms in humans include fever, chills, headache, weakness, and painful swelling of lymph nodes in the groin, armpit, or neck areas, according to the NMDOH. The CDC notes that humans typically contract the plague through flea bites from rodents carrying the plague bacterium or by handling animals infected with the disease.