Plague in New Mexico Confirmed

There have been two new cases of the human plague found in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, making it now three cases in total that have been confirmed in the state this year.

The New Mexico Department of Health confirmed the two cases, a 52-year-old woman and 62-year-old woman, both of whom were hospitalized, according to USA Today.

A 63-year-old woman contracted the plague earlier this month.

The plague is said to be contracted from infected flea bites, which comes from having contact with dead rodents or animals.

The symptoms associated with this sickness vary, but if detected early, they can be treated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraged people to reduce "rodent habitat around their homes," USA Today noted. The CDC said the plague can also be prevented if people treat their pets for fleas and apply the right bug spray when in areas at risk for fleas.

"Pets that are allowed to roam and hunt can bring infected fleas from dead rodents back into the home, putting you and your children at risk," Paul Ettestad, a state public health veterinarian, told Newsweek.

According to the CDC, about seven cases of this rare plague are contracted in the U.S. each year.

Among Americans, the plague is usually detected in New Mexico, northwestern Arizona and southern Colorado.

However, the problem is more serious in Africa, where most of the 3,248 human cases of the plague recorded between 2010 and 2015 were found.

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