While the plague is often associated with historical pandemics, it remains a persistent, albeit rare, bacterial infection in the modern United States. Health authorities recently reported that a woman in New Mexico died from the disease earlier this year. The plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is typically transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas or direct contact with infected animals, such as rodents.

Public health experts note that cases are most frequently identified in the southwestern United States, including states like New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Because the bacteria circulate in wild rodent populations, the risk of transmission remains present in these rural and semi-rural environments. While modern antibiotics are highly effective at treating the plague if caught early, the disease remains fatal if left undiagnosed or untreated. Health departments continue to monitor these areas to provide guidance on avoiding contact with potentially infected wildlife and their habitats.