A resident of South Lake Tahoe in California has tested positive for the plague, local health authorities confirmed this week. The individual is now recovering at home under medical care, according to a statement from El Dorado County officials.
Health officials believe the person was likely bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area, a popular mountain recreation spot. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has been notified and an investigation is under way.
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevations. Although human cases are extremely rare, they can be serious. Symptoms, which appear within two weeks of exposure, include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. Antibiotics are effective if the disease is detected early.
The last human case in El Dorado County was in 2020, also linked to the South Lake Tahoe area. In 2021, the US Forest Service closed several sites at Lake Tahoe after discovering plague in chipmunks. CDPH routinely monitors rodent populations and has found evidence of plague exposure in 41 rodents in the county since 2021.
