THERE HAVE BEEN THREE HUMAN PLAGUE CASES IN THE U.S. IN 2013…AND ALL HAVE BEEN IN NEW MEXICO. THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT. DR. PAUL ETTESTAD WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF SPECIES OF WILD RODENTS, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO, AND ALSO A WIDE VARIETY OF FLEAS THAT CARRY THE DISEASE. HE SAYS PRAIRIE DOGS, ROCK SQUIRRELS, WOOD RATS, AND DEER MICE ARE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO PLAGUE AND ATTRACT A LOT OF FLEAS.
ETTESTAD SAYS THE VERY WET END TO THE MONSOON SEASON IS PROBABLY THE REASON WE'RE SEEING PLAGUE CASES INTO SEPTEMBER.
