Patient is recovering at home under medical care, officials say.
A person in California tested positive for the plague after likely getting bit via an infected flea during a camping trip in the Lake Tahoe area.
Health officials in El Dorado County’s Public Health Division announced Tuesday that a positive case of the potentially life-threatening disease turned up in a South Lake Tahoe resident after the virus-filled flea bit the unidentified victim.
“It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking, or camping in areas where wild rodents are present,” stated Kyle Fliflet, acting director of El Dorado County’s public health.
As of Tuesday, the patient was recovering at home under medical care.
Worldwide, 3,248 human plague cases were reported between 2010 and 2015, according to World Health Organization data.
The disease, commonly referred to as as “the plague,” caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, occurs naturally in the western parts of the country and typically spreads via fleas or wild rodents.
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” added Fliflet.
Pets, but particularly dogs and cats, are susceptible to carrying plague-infected fleas.
The plague, oftentimes referred to as the Black Death, is estimated to have killed roughly half of Europe’s population during the 14th century.
An investigation into the exact circumstances is underway, according to officials.
