A New Mexico resident died from the bubonic plague: modern medicines did not save him from an ancient disease

A New Mexico man has died from complications caused by bubonic plague. There is growing concern in the region about the disease, which is carried by rodents, reports New York Post.

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A Lincoln County patient was hospitalized with a bacterial illness, although details about how he became infected and how his health deteriorated remain unclear, the state Department of Health Services (NMDOH) said March 8.

Despite all the efforts of doctors, the patient died from complications caused by the disease. This marked the first reported case of bubonic plague in New Mexico since 2021.

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There have been four cases of the disease reported in the state this year. And in February, a person became infected in Oregon bubonic plaguet your cat.

According to NMDOH, plague “is a bacterial disease of rodents” and is typically transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. It can also spread through direct contact with infected animals, such as rodents, wild animals, and even domestic animals.

In addition, there is a risk of inhaling dust contaminated with dried rodent urine or feces containing bacteria. Read about how an Odessa resident invented two unique vaccines that saved millions of people from plague and cholera. material.

NMDOH is currently “working with area residents” and has vowed to assess communities for “ongoing risk.”

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the Lincoln County man who died from the plague,” said Erin Phipps with State Public Health Veterinarian. “This tragic incident serves as a clear reminder of the threat posed by this ancient disease. This case highlights the need to raise public awareness and take preventative measures to prevent its spread.”

Symptoms of the disease

Bubonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis. This bacterium was most likely brought to North America by rats around 1900. Rodents hid on ships that sailed to America from Southeast Asia.

Since then, the disease has become common in rodents in rural areas of the southwestern United States, where most cases of the disease are recorded.

Once infected, patients experience a variety of symptoms, ranging from fever and chills to swollen lymph nodes. These nodes become painful, they are called buboes - they appear soon after the fever. From them the disease got its name.

“Buboes form at the site of the bite of an infected rodent or flea,” explained Erica Suski, a Canadian certified infection control specialist.

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Although there is no vaccine for the disease, plague can be treated with antibiotics if detected early. Otherwise, it can become fatal.

“Bubonic plague itself is a serious infectious disease. “It is quickly developing into more severe and deadly forms of the plague,” Suski warned. “More serious forms include pneumonic and septicemic plague, in which bacteria enter the lungs and bloodstream.”

To avoid the risk of transmission, experts advise people not to allow pets to roam unattended or prey on rodents, and to avoid sick or dead rodents and rabbits, their nests and burrows.

Fortunately, bubonic plague is extremely rare in the United States, with an average of five to 15 cases reported annually in the West.

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