A New Mexico resident has tested positive for the plague, making it the second case in the state this year, health officials confirmed on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

According to a news release from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), a 77-year-old man from Bernalillo County was hospitalized and has since been discharged. Officials say that there have been no plague-related deaths in the state in 2025.

"The bacterium that causes plague can be found in wild rodents and their fleas throughout New Mexico," Dr. Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian for the NMDOH, said in a statement. "Keeping pets on the flea control product recommended by your veterinarian helps protect them and your family."

This case in New Mexico comes roughly a month after a California resident also tes

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