New Mexica DoH Confirms Plague, West Nile In Animals, Mosquitoes

The New Mexico Department of Health recommends people protect themselves against mosquito bites and from exposure to rodents while enjoying the outdoors this summer. The Department of Health’s Scientific Laboratory confirmed that mosquitoes from Las Cruces tested positive for West Nile Virus this week. The Department has also confirmed plague in six cats and three dogs in Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties so far this year. There has been one case of plague in an Eddy County man who got the disease in January from hunting rabbits. There have been no human cases of West Nile so far this year. “We see the most cases of West Nile Virus infection, including fatalities, from July through September,” said Paul Ettestad, the Department’s public health veterinarian. “Fortunately, it is easy to protect yourself by taking... [read full story]