A South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for plague after what health officials believe was a flea bite sustained during a camping trip in the area. The individual is currently receiving medical care and recovering at home.
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is rare but naturally present in certain parts of California, including high-elevation zones like El Dorado County. It is most commonly transmitted through bites from fleas that have fed on infected rodents such as squirrels or chipmunks. Pets can also bring infected fleas into the home, raising potential risks to families.
Symptoms — typically showing up within two weeks — include fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. The good news: when detected early, plague can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
Local officials say this is the first human case in the county since 2020, and their surveillance found dozens of rodents in the Tahoe Basin testing positive for the plague bacterium over recent years — four so far in 2025 alone.
Health authorities are urging anyone visiting or living in the area to stay alert, especially when hiking or camping. Recommendations include avoiding direct contact with wild rodents, using flea repellents, keeping pets leashed and away from rodent dwellings, and seeking medical attention if symptoms appear.
This case serves as a reminder that even centuries-old diseases like plague remain a very real — and treatable — concern when we step into the great outdoors.