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A cat in Los Alamos county was diagnosed with the plague, the first case in the state this year, the New Mexico Department of Health said Thursday.
Little information was released by the state other than saying the cat got sick in late January and is recovering from treatment.
Health officials will conduct an examination to make sure the cat did not pass the disease on to family members or neighbors.
“Even amid a global pandemic, New Mexico still has other diseases and there are steps people can take to protect themselves and their pets,” said Dr. Tracie Collins, Minister-designate for Health, in a statement.
The plague is often transmitted through flea bites, but it can also be transmitted through rodents, wildlife, and pets.
A man from Rio Arriba County died of the plague in August, and a man from Santa Fe County was diagnosed with the disease in July. Health officials also discovered the plague last year in a dog and a cat, both in Santa Fe County.
In 2019, the state had one case of the plague: a 72-year-old man from Torrance County.
Symptoms of the plague include fever, chills, and headache. There may also be swelling in the groin, armpit, or neck.
u Avoid sick or dead rodents and rabbits as well as their nests and burrows.
u Prevent pets from running around and hunting.
u Clean up areas near your home where rodents could live, such as the bathroom. B. piles of wood, brushes and abandoned vehicles.
u Have sick pets examined by a veterinarian immediately.
u Ask your doctor about an unexplained illness with a sudden and severe fever.
u Move piles of hay, wood and compost as far away from home as possible.
u Do not leave your pet’s food and water where rodents and wildlife can reach it.
