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Plague in United States

The US averages about seven human plague cases a year (range 0 to 17), mostly in northern New Mexico, northern Arizona and southern Colorado, then California, southern Oregon and western Nevada. New Mexico alone accounted for 254 of 502 cases in 1970-2023. Over 80 percent are bubonic.

Updated:

Situation now

Two cases so far in 2026 per provisional CDC data: Apache County, Arizona (April, recovered) and a fatal case in Santa Fe County, New Mexico (June). There were 5 cases in 2025, including a fatal pneumonic case in Coconino County, Arizona, linked to two sick cats.

2
cases 2026 to week 38
5
same period 2025
Arizona 1, New Mexico 1
by state (CDC NNDSS, provisional)

Authority: US CDC

Natural plague foci in United StatesUS Southwest (Four Corners)US Far West

Natural foci

  • US Southwest (Four Corners)

    Active

    Hosts: Prairie dogs, rock squirrels, chipmunks

    Northern New Mexico, northern Arizona and southern Colorado. New Mexico alone had 254 of 502 US cases in 1970-2023. 2026 so far: one case in Apache County, Arizona (April) and a fatal case in Santa Fe County, New Mexico (June).

  • US Far West

    Moderate

    Hosts: Ground squirrels, chipmunks

    California, Oregon and Nevada.

Recent events

  1. MMWR describes the fatal July 2025 pneumonic case in Coconino County, Arizona: exposure to two sick indoor cats, death within 8 hours of admission, 46 contacts given ciprofloxacin.

  2. A woman in Santa Fe County dies in New Mexico's first human plague case of 2026.

  3. Apache County, Arizona, confirms its first human case since 2015; the patient recovers.

Latest signals

Headlines attributed to United States in the last 45 days. Not verified by us.