BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) — The New Mexico Department of Health is reporting on Wednesday morning that the state is seeing its second case of human plague this year. According to NMDOH, a 77-year-old man from Bernalillo County was hospitalized with the plague and has since been discharged.

This case comes about a month after the first human plague case of the year was reported in Valencia County. A 43-year-old man was hospitalized and discharged. There have been no plague deaths this year, NMDOH confirmed.

Plague is a bacterial disease generally transmitted to humans through infected flea bites. It can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected rodents, wildlife, and pets. “The bacterium that causes plague can be found in wild rodents and their fleas throughout New Mexico,”

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