The Rio Arriba County man was in his 20s and was hospitalized before he died, the New Mexico Department of Health said Friday in a news release.
“Pest activity in New Mexico is usually highest during the summer months, so it is especially important to take precautionary measures now to prevent rodents and their flies, which can expose you to pests,” said the Department of Health Secretary. Kathy Kunkel.
Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected meat or through direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wild animals and pets, the release states. It can be effectively treated with modern antibiotics, but can cause serious illness such as death if not treated immediately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC.
To prevent pests, roaming and diseases of pets, use a pet care product and move mounds, wood and compost piles away from the house, the release advises.
Nine close contacts and 26 secondary contacts of the patient were quarantined and negatively tested, the Baotou Municipal Health Commission said in a statement on its website.
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