SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California (KOLO) – A South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for the plague.
El Dorado County health officials say the unidentified resident is under the care of a medical professional and is recovering at home.
Officials say they believe the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area. Health officials are investigating.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County, said Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County’s Acting Director of Public Health. “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,” he added.
The bacteria that causes the plague, Yersinia pestis, is most often transmitted by the bite of fleas that have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks, and other wild rodents.
Symptoms typically show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea. Symptoms include fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics if detected early.
Prior to this case, the most recent case came in 2020, with the patient likely being infected in the South Lake Tahoe area.
Health officials say you should never feed squirrels, touch injured or dead rodents, and never allow your pets to play with sick, injured or dead rodents.
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