Plague — the bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis and responsible for the Black Death that killed roughly one-third of Europe's population in the 14th century — has not gone away. It circulates in wild rodent populations throughout the American Southwest and kills people every year. On June 11, 2026, the New Mexico Department of Health announced that a Santa Fe County woman had died from plague, making her the state's first human plague fatality in 2026. The Department has contacted her close contacts and launched an environmental assessment to evaluate ongoing risk.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of the woman who passed away due to plague," said Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian for NMDOH. "This tragedy emphasizes the need for heightened community awareness and for taking measures to prevent plague infections."
