California resident tests positive for plague after camping near Lake Tahoe
Global News
Health officials say symptoms of plague usually show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea.
A person has tested positive for plague after possibly being bitten by an infected flea while camping in South Lake Tahoe, according to public health officials.
El Dorado County’s public health division announced the positive plague case on Tuesday and stated that the individual is currently under the care of a medical professional while recovering at home.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County’s acting director of public health, said in a news release. “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.”
No other information about the person or their condition was released but health officials said they are investigating the situation.
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and plague bacteria are most often transmitted by the bites of fleas that have acquired them from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents, according to El Dorado County’s public health division.
They say dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into people’s homes and warn that people can get the disease when they are bitten by infected fleas. Plague can be prevented by avoiding contact with wild rodents and keeping pets away from rodent burrows.
Health officials say symptoms of plague usually show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea and include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. Plague can be effectively treated with antibiotics if detected early.
The bubonic plague is the most common form of the bacterial infection, which spreads naturally among rodents like prairie dogs and rats.
