Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — The New Mexico Department of Health says a Lincoln County man died of plague after being hospitalized for the disease. The case is the first human case of plague in New Mexico since 2021 and the first fatality since 2020. Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents, generally spread to humans through the bites of infected fleas. It can also spread by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and pets. Dogs and cats allowed to roam and hunt can bring infected fleas from dead rodents back into the home, putting household members at risk.
