Resident in California tests positive for plague after probably infected flea bite
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A California resident has tested positive for the plague after likely being bitten by an infected flea while camping in Tahoe, confirmed health officials. The individual is currently recovering at home under medical supervision, according to the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency. The California Department of Public Health has alerted local officials about the case, prompting an investigation.
The county stated in a news release that it is believed the person may have contracted the disease while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area. Health officials are actively looking into the situation.
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Pest bacteria cause bubonic plague and are carried by infected rodents. The disease still exists in many regions. (Istock)
Pest bacteria are typically transmitted by fleas that have fed on infected squirrels, chipmunks, or other wild rodents. El Dorado County has identified 41 rodents showing signs of exposure to plague from 2021 to 2024. So far in 2025, four plague-positive rodents have been discovered in the Tahoe basin.
Human cases of plague are rare in the US, with an average of about seven cases reported each year, primarily in Western states such as Northern New Mexico and Arizona, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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A camper at Lake Tahoe tested positive for the plague, likely from a flea bite. (Istock)
Symptoms typically begin with the bubonic form of the plague, which can lead to symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. Without treatment, it can progress to septicemic plague, causing abdominal pain and skin bleeding.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” said Kyle Fliflet, the county’s acting director.
“It’s important for individuals to take precautions for themselves and their pets while outdoors, especially when hiking, walking, or camping in areas where wild rodents are present.”
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Pest bacteria are typically transmitted through flea bites from rodents and other wildlife. (Istock)
The most recent human case in El Dorado County prior to this incident was reported in 2020, also believed to be from the South Lake Tahoe area.
In 2015, two individuals were infected after exposure to infected rodents or fleas in Yosemite National Park. Both recovered following treatment. These were the first human cases in California since 2006, officials noted.
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Health authorities are continuing to investigate the recent case in Lake Tahoe.
“The individual is in stable condition and receiving medical care, and the investigation is ongoing,” El Dorado County Deputy Public Health Officer Carla Hass informed FOX News Digital.
