Plague occurs in two regions of the western United States. Which location is part of one of those regions?

Plague occurs in two regions of the western United States. Which location is part of one of those regions?

• A. Southeastern Texas
• B. Northern California
• C. Eastern Washington
• D. Northern New Mexico

Answer: (D)

Plague in the western United States has two main endemic foci where the disease circulates in wild rodent fleas, creating human risk. One focus is in the Southwest, with New Mexico being a classic center, and the other runs along the Pacific coast. Northern New Mexico sits in the Southwest focus, making it part of one of those two regional areas. The other options lie outside that recognizable pair of endemic regions, so the location that clearly fits one of the established foci is Northern New Mexico.

Plague in the western United States has two main endemic foci where the disease circulates in wild rodent fleas, creating human risk. One focus is in the Southwest, with New Mexico being a classic center, and the other runs along the Pacific coast. Northern New Mexico sits in the Southwest focus, making it part of one of those two regional areas. The other options lie outside that recognizable pair of endemic regions, so the location that clearly fits one of the established foci is Northern New Mexico.