One person has tested positive for plague in California after camping near South Lake Tahoe, local officials said.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) informed El Dorado County health officials of the case involving a South Lake Tahoe resident. The person, believed to have been bitten by an infected flea while camping is under medical care and recovering at home.
Health officials are investigating the case and have urged residents to take precautions when spending time outdoors.
Kyle Fliflet, the acting director of El Dorado County, said in a statement, “Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County. It is 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.”
About the plague
Plague is caused by the bacterium ‘Yersinia Pestis’, which is usually spread through the bites of fleas that have fed on infected squirrels, chipmunks, or other wild rodents. Pets such as dogs and cats can also carry plague-infected fleas into the home, putting people at risk if they are bitten.
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.
Previous to this, the most recent reported case of human plague in El Dorado County was in 2020. Two people were reported infected with plague in 2015 after having been exposed to infected rodents or their fleas in Yosemite National Park. All individuals were treated and recovered. Those were the first reported human cases in the state since 2006.
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At least seven cases of human plague are reportedly recorded on an average in a year in the US. The last case was recorded in July 2025.
