California resident tests positive for plague after camping near Lake Tahoe
Person contracts plague after camping trip near popular vacation spot
- A California resident has tested positive for plague after likely being bitten by an infected flea while camping in South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County.
- The individual is currently recovering at home under medical care, following the diagnosis.
- Health officials in El Dorado County confirm that plague is naturally present in higher elevation areas of the county, advising precautions for individuals and their pets when outdoors.
- This case is among several reported across the US this year, including a cat in Colorado that died and an Arizona man who succumbed to the disease last month.
- Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is rare in America, with an average of seven human cases annually, and is treatable with antibiotics if caught early.