Bubonic Plague Kills New Mexico Boy

An eight-year-old boy from New Mexico has died from bubonic plague. His sister, 10, is in hospital being treated for the disease. The two siblings are the first cases of bubonic plague in the US this year.

Health officials in New Mexico have not released how the children contracted the disease, only saying that they are investigating the family's Santa Fe County home to see if others are at risk. Neighbours have been informed that the plague has been confirmed in their area. The El Paso Times reports:

"Our sympathies go out to this young boy's family and friends," Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil said in a statement. "Unfortunately, plague can be difficult to detect and can quickly escalate in severity."

Humans generally get the plague from bites of infected fleas. It can also be transmitted by direct contact with an infected animal. The plague can cause people to have fever, chills, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea and swollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpit or neck areas. If the infection hits the lungs then symptoms can also include severe cough, difficulty breathing and bloody sputum. Infection times generally are a few days from the time of contact with plague bacteria but with pneumatic plague the infection time can be as quickly as a few hours. On average there are 10 to 15 cases of the plague every year in the United States. Antibiotics can treat the illness that caused massive death tolls during the 'Dark Ages.'