IF YOU SEE A DEAD RODENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST MOUNTAINS, DON’T GO NEAR IT. THAT’S THE WARNING FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS FOLLOWING WORD OF BERNALILLO COUNTY’S FIRST CASE OF HUMAN PLAGUE IN 2016. THE DISEASE WAS CONFIRMED IN A 77 YEAR OLD MAN.
PLAGUE, WHICH CAN BE FATAL, IS USUALLY PASSED ALONG THROUGH INFECTED RODENTS OR THEIR FLEAS. DR. PAUL SMITH WITH ABQ’S URBAN BIOLOGY DIVISION SAYS SUMMER IS PEAK TIME FOR PLAGUE IN NEW MEXICO.
