The New Mexico Health Department is warning residents of hantavirus after a 59-year-old woman from Taos County was recently hospitalized with the disease.

According to New Mexico Department of Health spokesman Chris Minnick, this is the first confirmed report of the disease.

"What that tells us is we know the virus is here in the state and it just can serve as a reminder for people to be cautious about the disease because it's a disease that can be fatal," Minnick said.

The pulmonary disease is transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings or saliva. People can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus.

With the new warning out, some residents told KFOX they will be taking precautions to protect against the disease.

"Some people around here don't think about it much until it happens in your back yard," said Jan Upshaw of Dona Ana County. "We should take the precautions ahead of time so that we don't have to worry about it later."