A South Lake Tahoe resident tested positive for plague and is recovering at home under medical care. The person may have been infected by a flea bite while camping near South Lake Tahoe. The case is the first in El Dorado County since 2020. Flea bites carrying the Yersinia pestis bacterium are the most common transmission route. Squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents often carry the bacteria and can transmit it via fleas that also live on dogs and cats. Symptoms include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes, typically appearing within two weeks. Investigation into the infection source is ongoing.
In a statement, health officials said they were notified by the California Department of Public Health about the positive test. They said the person is under the care of a medical professional and is recovering at home and may have been infected when bitten by a flea while camping near South Lake Tahoe. The case is the first one reported in El Dorado County since 2020.
"Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including the higher elevations of El Dorado County," El Dorado County's Acting Director of Public Health Kyle Fliflet said in a statement. "It's important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking or camping in areas where rodents are present." Squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents often carry the bacteria and pass it along when bitten by fleas, health officials said.
Bites from fleas carrying the Yersinia pestis bacterium are the most common way the disease is transmitted, according to the CDC. Health officials said symptoms include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. They usually set in within about two weeks of exposure.
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