Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) –A Santa Fe County rodent has tested positive for plague, marking the county’s first confirmed wild animal plague case of 2026. The New Mexico Department of Health said the rodent came from a person who found it dead on their property and turned it in for testing. Earlier this year, three Santa Fe County dogs and one Bernalillo County dog also tested positive for plague. That brings the state to five animal plague cases this year. A Santa Fe County woman died from plague in the state’s first human case for 2026 last month. The NMDOH says that while this latest case relates to an animal with plague, it’s important to remember humans can get plague from flea bites or direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and even pets. Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headache and weakness. Most cases also include a swollen, painful lymph node in the groin, armpit or neck area.
