Overview

• A 77-year-old man from Bernalillo County was hospitalized with plague and has been discharged, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
• This is the second confirmed human case in the state this year after a 43-year-old Valencia County man was treated and discharged in late August.
• NMDOH reports no plague-related deaths in New Mexico in 2025.
• Officials say Yersinia pestis circulates in wild rodents and their fleas, with human infection typically from infected flea bites or direct contact with sick animals, including pets.
• Prevention guidance includes avoiding sick or dead rodents, clearing rodent habitat near homes, using DEET or permethrin during outdoor activities, and keeping pets on veterinarian-recommended flea control.