A man living in South Lake Tahoe, California has tested positive for the plague, health officials announced.
According to a press release, the man is resting at home under the care of a healthcare professional. An investigation is ongoing and details are scarce, but officials believe the man contracted the plague after being bitten by a flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” said Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County’s Acting Director of Public Health. “It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and or camping in areas where wild rodents are present.”
Prior to this case, the most recent reported case of human plague in El Dorado County occurred in 2020. Two others tested positive for the disease after being exposed at Yosemite National Park in 2015.
What is the plague?
Just hearing the words conjures images of the Middle Ages and The Black Death, but the threat of plague to humans is very slim.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are an average of seven reported human plague cases in the United States each year. Caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, plague occurs naturally among wild rodents.
Public health officials in California monitor rodents for the plague, with 41 rodents in El Dorado County testing positive between 2021 and 2024 and an additional four this year.
Humans typically become infected from being bitten by fleas who acquired the bacteria from infected rodents or by handling an infected animal.
Symptoms of plague typically occur within two weeks of exposure and include fever, headache, nausea, chills, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough.
How to avoid the plague
Like we said, it’s highly unlikely you will encounter the plague at all, but to be sure, here are some things to avoid, per El Dorado County health officials
- Do not feed squirrels, chipmunks or other wild rodents.
- Never touch sick, injured or dead rodents.
- Do not allow your pets to play with or pick up sick, injured or dead rodents.
- Do not camp, sleep or rest near animal burrows or areas where dead rodents are observed.
- Look for and heed posted warning signs.
- Wear long pants tucked into boot tops and spray insect repellent containing DEET on socks and pant cuffs to reduce exposure to fleas.
- Leave pets home if possible; otherwise keep pets on a leash. Do not allow pets to approach sick or dead rodents or explore rodent burrows.
- Protect pets with flea control products.
- Pet cats are highly susceptible to plague and can pose a direct threat to humans. Keep cats away from rodents. Consult a veterinarian if your cat becomes sick after being in contact with rodents.
- If you get sick after being in an area where plague is known to occur, consult a physician and tell them you may have been exposed to plague.
