The death of a 52-year-old woman from Santa Fe County is being investigated by the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDoH) with bubonic plague or simply plague as the suspected cause. Tests are being performed at the NMDoH's Scientific Laboratory Division for confirmation.

An environmental investigation at the victim's home has been scheduled to check for existing risks that could affect others in the surrounding area. If positive, this would be the first human plague case in New Mexico this year, Headlight Deming News reported.

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"Department of Health staff will go door-to-door to neighbors near the case to inform them about plague found in the area and educate them on reducing their risk," Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward, MPH said. "Because the patient had pneumonia, health care providers and other close contacts of the patient who have been determined to have been exposed are taking preventive antibiotic therapy."

An infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, plague is an illness of rodents primarily transmitted to humans through bites of infected fleas. It can however be also transmitted by direct contact with infected pets and other animals including rodents.

Meanwhile, the people in Golden, Colorado have been alerted regarding the case of a squirrel that tested positive for bubonic plague.

The rodent was found at the 15th and Jackson, and memos were put up near and around the area enumerating simple precautionary measures on how to avoid any kind of exposure, as per Echo Examiner.

Jefferson County Public Health Director Dr. Mark Johnson however, assured that the risk of residents near the area contracting the highly infectious disease is extremely low.

"We want people to be aware that summer marks the beginning of the plague season and just a few simple precautions will further reduce that risk," Johnson explained.

Despite the alarming news, Jefferson County Public Health officials have decided not to call off the town's biggest summer celebration - the Buffalo Bill Days, kdvr.com has learned.

"Plague is difficult to catch and we felt any potential exposure would by very, very low," Craig Sanders, an Environmental Health Program supervisor at Jefferson County Public Health said. "We're assuming that it (bubonic plague) is probably present in the tree squirrels in the downtown area of Golden."

Jefferson County Public Health received confirmation about the bubonic plague case on Friday. Officials said it's ok to proceed with the Buffalo Bill Days as planned as long as the advisory was informed.

Tagsplague, bubonic death, rodents, squirrel, Infectious disease, colorado