A resident of South Lake Tahoe, California, has been recognized with the plague, the state’s first human plague an infection since 2020.
The person is recovering at residence whereas receiving medical care, well being officers in El Dorado County introduced this week.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” mentioned Kyle Fliflet, the county’s appearing public well being director. “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.”
The illness, attributable to the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is mostly transmitted to people by fleas which have acquired it from contaminated wild rodents equivalent to squirrels and chipmunks, in accordance with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). Folks will also be contaminated whereas dealing with contaminated animals. Canine and cats might also carry contaminated fleas.
Whereas the plague gained a fearsome repute as the reason for the hundreds of thousands of deaths in Europe within the Center Ages, fashionable remedy with frequent antibiotics might be extremely efficient if the illness is recognized and handled early.
Signs sometimes seem inside two weeks of publicity and might embrace fever, nausea, weak spot, headache and swollen lymph nodes.
As well as, 4 rodents have examined optimistic thus far in 2025, all within the Tahoe basin.
Well being officers are urging residents and guests to pay attention to the danger and to take easy precautions.
The CDC additionally encourages folks to verify pets are protected with flea management merchandise. Folks also needs to keep away from sharing a mattress with pets that roam in uncovered areas and make their property much less engaging to rodents by clearing brush, rock piles and different hiding areas and by eradicating potential meals provide.
Extra info:
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has extra about how the plague spreads.
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California resident contaminated with plague, doubtless from flea at Lake Tahoe (2025, August 21)
retrieved 21 August 2025
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