New Mexico 2011 human plague cases

[Ronan Kelly]

State confirms first human plague case
Victim hospitalized, recovering
Updated: Friday, 06 May 2011, 2:50 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 06 May 2011, 2:50 PM MDT

SANTA FE (KRQE) - New Mexico and the country's first human plague case of 2011 has been confirmed in a Santa Fe County man, the state Department of Health reported Friday.

The victim of the bubonic plague is recovering in a hospital, the DOH said identifying him only as being 58 years old.

The department is alerting people who live in the same area or came in contact with the man, DOH Secretary Dr. Catherine Torres said.

...

http://www.kasa.com/dpps/news/news_health/state-confirms-first-human-plague-case_3803308

Plague had been previously identified in animals;

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166163

[alert]

Re: New Mexico confirms first human plague case

Plague is actually fairly common in the American Southwest, with about 5-15 deaths per year. The above case seems to be the first in the nation so far this year, which is actually thus below average.

http://www.kutnews.org/post/human-case-bubonic-plague-reported-new-mexico

Human Case Of Bubonic Plague Reported in New Mexico
By Nathan Bernier

Enlarge imageThe Wayson stain of bubonic plague, or Yersinia pestis. The bacteria has a characteristic "safety pin" appearance.
Photo by Centers for Disease Control and PreventionOur neighbors to the west have recorded the country's first human case of the dreaded bubonic plague. A 58-year-old man in the area of Santa Fe, New Mexico is recovering in hospital, reports Albuquerque CBS affiliate KRQE.

"Whenever there is a human case of plague, the [New Mexico] Department of Health takes several steps to ensure the safety of the immediate family, neighbors, and health care providers," [New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Catherine]Torres said in a statement released by her office. "We inform neighbors door-to-door about plague found in the area and educate them on reducing their risk.

It is not unusual to find bubonic plague in the West Texas rodent population, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Department.

It?s spread to people by direct contact with infected animals such as prairie dogs, squirrels, cats, rats and mice. The odds of this happening are low, but take care anyway. Plague fully deserves its dread-disease status and can be fatal if not treated promptly.

You can say that again. Plague epidemics agonized humans for centuries. The 14th Century outbreak in Europe was particularly notorious for wiping out up to half the population.

Thankfully, modern medicine has brought the mortality rate of plague in the United States down to about 1 in 7. Between five and 15 Americans die from plague in an average year.

You may recall in 2003, several vials containing bubonic plague went missing from Texas Tech University. They were discovered an hour later. Comedian Jon Stewart joked about it at the time on The Daily Show.