Officials report 2 more plague cases in New Mexico
New Mexico health officials have documented two more human cases of plague in Santa Fe County
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Updated: 6:23 PM CDT Jun 27, 2017
WEBVTT ON 7 NEWS REPORTER DAVIDCARL JOINS US FROM GROUND ZEROFOR THIS YEAR'S PLAGUE, ANDTELLS US WHAT EXPERTS SAY COULDSAVE YOUR LIFE.REPORTER: PLAGUE CASES TRIPLE INNEW MEXICO.>> THIS IS THE SAME DISEASE THATTHEY CALLED THE BLACK DEATH THATIN THE MIDDLE AGES IN EUROPEKILLED TENS OF MILLIONS OFPEOPLE. REPORTER: SANTA FE COUNTY ISHOME TO ALL 3 OF NEW MEXICO'SHUMAN PLAGUE CASES THIS YEAR.THE FIRST, A 63-YEAR-OLD MANREPORTED EARLIER THIS MONTH.NOW TWO WOMEN, 52 AND62-YEARS-OLD, JOIN HIM IN THEHOSPITAL. >> EXTREME EXHAUSTION, HIGHFEVERS, AND INCREDIBLE ACHES ANDPAINS. REPORTER: THAT'S HOW LUCINDAMARKER REMEMBERS THE PLAGUE.THE DISEASE HIT SEVERAL MEMBERSOF HER FAMILY HARD, EVENTUALLYLEADING TO HER HUSBAND'S LEGSBEING AMPUTATED.>> WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THATPEOPLE ARE NOT EDUCATED ABOUTPLAGUE. >> THE SUMMER MONTHS ARE WHEN WETYPICALLY SEE THE MOST CASES.THE RODENTS ARE OUT, THE FLEASARE OUT. REPORTER: DOCTOR IS ONE OF THETOP VETERENARIANS IN NEW MEXICO,AND HE SAYS THE LAND OFENCHANTMENT SEES THE DISEASELIKE NO ONE ELSE.>> NEW MEXICO PROBABLY HAS HALFTHE CASES OF PLAGUE IN THEUNITED STATES. REPORTER: TYPICALLY, PLAGUESPREADS THROUGH FLEAS ONINFECTED RODENTS.SO HOW ARE NEW MEXICANS CATCHINGIT AT SUCH A HIGH RATE?>> PEOPLE LETTING THEIR DOGS ANDCATS ROAM AND HUNT.THEY FIND THE DEAD RODENT.THE FLEAS JUMP ONTO THEM, THENTHEY LET THE DOG OR CAT BACK INTHE HOUSE. REPORTER BUT THE NEW MEXICANSWE TALKED TO SAY THEY AREN'TWORRIED.>> I DON'T REALLY WORRY ABOUTIT, BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE CITY,SO WE DON'T GET OUT IN THE WOODSWHERE THE ANIMALS ARE. REPORTER: THE HEIGHT OF PLAGUESEASON CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST,BUT INFECTED FLEAS ARE AROUNDNEW MEXICO YEAR ROUND.REPORTING IN SANTA FE, DAVID
Officials report 2 more plague cases in New Mexico
New Mexico health officials have documented two more human cases of plague in Santa Fe County
![AP logo]()
Updated: 6:23 PM CDT Jun 27, 2017
New Mexico health officials have documented two more human cases of plague in Santa Fe County.The Health Department says the two recent cases involve a 52-year-old woman and a 62-year-old woman. A case involving a 63-year-old man was reported earlier this month.All three cases have required hospitalization but there have been no deaths.Health workers are conducted environmental investigations around the homes of the patients to look for ongoing risk and to ensure the safety of the families and neighbors.Plague generally is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas but can be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals including rodents and pets. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache and weakness.New Mexico had four human plague cases in 2016 with no fatalities.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials have documented two more human cases of plague in Santa Fe County.
The Health Department says the two recent cases involve a 52-year-old woman and a 62-year-old woman. A case involving a 63-year-old man was reported earlier this month.
All three cases have required hospitalization but there have been no deaths.
Health workers are conducted environmental investigations around the homes of the patients to look for ongoing risk and to ensure the safety of the families and neighbors.
Plague generally is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas but can be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals including rodents and pets. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache and weakness.
New Mexico had four human plague cases in 2016 with no fatalities.
