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Bubonic plague kills New Mexico man, officials say. What to know about the ‘Black Death’

A New Mexico man died after being hospitalized for bubonic plague in the state’s first death from the disease since 2020, health officials reported.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the Lincoln County man who succumbed to plague ,” State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps said in a Friday, March 8, news release.

“This tragic incident serves as a clear reminder of the threat posed by this ancient disease and emphasizes the need for heightened community awareness and proactive measures to prevent its spread,” Phipps said.

The last human plague case in New Mexico involved a Torrance County resident in 2021, the agency said. Four people in the state had bubonic plague in 2020 and one died.

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