A South Lake Tahoe, California, resident has tested positive for the plague, according to El Dorado County health officials.
Few details about the infected resident were made public, but officials said the individual is recovering at home and is under the care of a medical professional.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” El Dorado County 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, and or camping in areas where wild rodents are present.”
It is believed that the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area, but the case remains under investigation.
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is most often transmitted by the bites of fleas that have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents.
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Author: Dillon B
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