- New Mexico has reported its first human case of plague this year, involving a 43-year-old man from Valencia County who was hospitalized and has since been discharged.
- The man was likely exposed to the disease while camping in Rio Arriba County, as plague is known to circulate among wildlife in the western United States.
- This case follows other recent human plague infections across the western U.S., including a Californian man who tested positive and an Arizona resident who died from the disease in July.
- Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is rare in the U.S., averaging seven cases annually, and spreads primarily through flea bites or contact with infected animals.
- Health officials advise precautions such as avoiding sick rodents, using insect repellent outdoors, and ensuring pets have appropriate flea control to prevent infection.
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