Officials said California residents tested positive for the plague after camping. California

Residents of South Lake Tahoe California Local authorities announced this week that they tested positive for the plague.

Statement issued Tuesday El Dorado County health officials said the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) informed them of the situation. The statement said the person is now recovering from home and under the care of medical professionals.

Health officials believe the person “probably got bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area”, a popular entertainment venue California and said they are investigating the situation.

“The plague naturally exists in many areas of California, including the high altitude areas of El Dorado County.” explain Kyle Fliflet, acting acting director of public health in El Dorado County. “It is important that individuals must take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially when walking, hiking and/or camping in areas where wild rodents appear.”

According to the press release, the plague is caused by Yersinia bacteria, most commonly transmitted by flea bites, “the bacteria were obtained from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents.”

Dogs and cats can also bring infected fleas into the family, officials said.

In the statement, local officials advised the public to avoid contact with wild rodents and to prevent pets from getting close to rodent caves.

Although human plague cases are “extremely rare”, they can be very serious, the press release said. This symptoms usually occur within two weeks of exposure and include fever, nausea, weakness, and swelling of the lymph nodes. If detected early, antibiotics can be used to effectively treat the plague.

CDPH said it typically monitors rodent populations throughout California for plague.

From 2021 to 2024, surveillance in El Dorado County identified 41 rodents that showed evidence of exposure to plague bacteria, the department said.

So far, four rodents have tested positive so far, county officials said, adding that they are all inside the Tahoe Basin.

The case this week is not the first plague brush in the area. The last confirmed human case in El Dorado County was in 2020, the statement added. Prior to that, the press release said two cases were reported in 2015 After contact at Yosemite National Park. All were treated and rehabilitated.

In 2021, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it will close several popular sites in Lake Tahoe for a few days After the plague was discovered In the chipmunk population.

Federal agencies said at the time that “media control” workers would complete “errorization treatment” in the area.

Last year, Colorado health officials also Confirmed human case of plague.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate In the United States, there are an average of 7 human plague cases every year, and most human cases occur in the western United States.