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Northern New Mexico Man Dies From The Plague

The New Mexico Department of Health says an 80-year-old Bernalillo County man has died from the plague.

It's the fourth human case of the plague this year in the state.

Authorities say an environmental investigation will be done at the man's home.

Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents and is generally transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas.

It can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals including rodents, wildlife and pets.

The first three human plague cases in New Mexico involved a 15-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl — both from Torrance County — and a 52-year-old man from Santa Fe County. They all have recovered.

There was one human plague case in New Mexico last year, two in 2011 and no cases in 2010.

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