Remote Surveillance Trailer in South Lake Tahoe, CA

South Lake Tahoe resident was probably bitten by infected flea while camping in the area, local health authorities say

A resident of South Lake Tahoe in California has tested positive for the plague, local authorities announced this week.

A statement released on Tuesday by health officials in El Dorado county said they were notified of the situation by the California department of public health (CDPH). The statement said the individual is now recovering at home and is under the care of a medical professional.

Health officials believe that the person “may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area”, a popular recreation spot in the California mountains, and said that they are investigating the situation.

“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.”

According to the news release, plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and is most often transmitted by the bites of fleas “that have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents”.

Dogs and cats can also carry infected fleas into the home, officials said.

In the statement, local officials advised the public to avoid contact with wild rodents and to prevent pets from going near rodent burrows.

The news release said that while human cases of plague are “extremely rare”, they can be very serious. Symptoms typically appear within two weeks of exposure and include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes, the release noted. If detected early, plague can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

CDPH said that it routinely monitors rodent populations across California for plague activity.

The department said that surveillance in El Dorado county from 2021 through 2024 identified a total of 41 rodents that showed evidence of exposure to the plague bacterium.

So far in 2025, four rodents have tested positive, county officials said, adding that they were all within the Tahoe Basin.

This week’s case is not the region’s first brush with plague. The last confirmed human case in El Dorado county was in 2020, the statement added, and was also believed to be linked to the South Lake Tahoe area. Before that, the release says that two cases were reported in 2015 after exposure in Yosemite national park. All individuals were treated and recovered.

In 2021, the US Forest Service announced it was closing several popular sites at Lake Tahoe for several days after discovering plague in the chipmunk population.

The federal agency said at the time that “vector control” workers would complete “eradication treatments” in the area.

Last year, Colorado health officials also confirmed a human case of the plague.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there is an average of seven human plague cases a year in the US, with most of the human cases occurring in the western US.

A person has tested positive for plague after possibly being bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area of California, public health officials say.

El Dorado County's Public Health Division announced the positive plague case Tuesday, noting that the person was recovering at home under medical care.

An investigation into the exact circumstances of the plague infection is underway.

"Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County," said Kyle Fliflet, acting director of public health for the county. "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."

Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is typically spread by fleas that have fed on infected wild rodents such as squirrels and chipmunks, health officials said. Pets, particularly cats and dogs, can also carry plague-infected fleas into the home.

Plague symptoms

Symptoms of plague generally appear within two weeks of exposure and may include fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. If detected early, the illness is treatable with antibiotics.

Although human cases of plague are extremely rare, they can be serious. El Dorado County said this is its first reported human case since 2020. Prior to that, the last confirmed cases in California were in 2015, involving two people exposed in Yosemite National Park. All previous patients recovered after receiving treatment.

Surveillance conducted by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health agencies between 2021 and 2024 identified 41 rodents in El Dorado County that had been exposed to plague. In 2025, four additional rodents have tested positive—each found in the Tahoe Basin.

El Dorado County Public Health shared the following tips to prevent exposure:

Richard Ramos

Richard Ramos is a web producer for CBS Sacramento who was born and raised in Sacramento. He graduated with a BA in Journalism from CSUS.

By Deanna Neff HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Aug. 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A resident of South Lake Tahoe, California, has been diagnosed with the plague, the state’s first human plague infection since 2020.

The individual is recovering at home while receiving medical care, health officials in El Dorado County announced this week.

The patient — who was camping in the South Lake Tahoe area, near the Nevada border — may have been bitten by an infected flea, officials said in a news release. An investigation is underway.

"Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County," said Kyle Fliflet, the county’s acting public health director. "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.”

The disease, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is most commonly transmitted to humans by fleas that have acquired it from infected wild rodents such as squirrels and chipmunks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People can also be infected while handling infected animals. Dogs and cats may also carry infected fleas.

While the plague gained a fearsome reputation as the cause of the millions of deaths in Europe in the Middle Ages, modern treatment with common antibiotics can be highly effective if the disease is diagnosed and treated early.

Symptoms typically appear within two weeks of exposure and can include fever, nausea, weakness, headache and swollen lymph nodes.

The California Department of Public Health noted that while no human cases have been reported since 2020, authorities found evidence of plague exposure in 41 rodents around the South Lake Tahoe area between 2021 to 2024, according to NBC News.

In addition, four rodents have tested positive so far in 2025, all in the Tahoe basin.

Health officials are urging residents and visitors to be aware of the risk and to take simple precautions.

Individuals should not “touch squirrels, chipmunks or other wild rodents, especially those that are dead or injured. People should not camp near where dead rodents were observed, and they should wear long pants tucked into boots and spray bug repellent to reduce flea exposure,” officials warned in a news release.

The CDC also encourages people to make sure pets are protected with flea control products. People should also avoid sharing a bed with pets that roam in exposed areas and make their property less attractive to rodents by clearing brush, rock piles and other hiding spaces and by removing potential food supplies.

More information

(KTXL) — A resident of South Lake Tahoe, California, has tested positive for the plague, health officials have confirmed.

Few details were made available about the resident, but the El Dorado County Environmental Management Division and Public Health Division said the patient is under the care of a medical professional while recovering at home.

The case remains under investigation. It is believed that the person became ill after being bitten by a flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area.

“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.”

The plague is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium, which is mostly transmitted by the bites of fleas that have the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks, and other wild rodents. Dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into the home, according to health officials. People can get the plague if bitten by infected fleas.

“Plague can be prevented by avoiding contact with wild rodents, and by keeping pets away from rodent burrows,” public health officials said.

Officials said CHPD has been monitoring rodent populations for plague activity in California and closely coordinating with health officials. Camera footage shows activities in El Doardo County from 2021 through 2024, uncovering 41 rodents that showed evidence of being exposed to the plague bacterium. This year, El Doardo County health officials said four additional rodents have tested positive in the Tahoe Basin.

There are three types of plague that present with different symptoms and are caused by different things. Bubonic plague is caused by the bites of fleas that are mostly found on rodents.

Authorities said the symptoms of plague will usually show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea, and they include fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. The plague can be treated effectively with antibiotics if symptoms are shown early.

Septicemic plague, which has similar symptoms, can develop from untreated bubonic plague as well as from the handling of infected animals. Should a person with bubonic or septicemic plague go without treatment, and the bacteria reach their lungs, they can develop pneumonic plague. Like other forms of plague, a person infected with pneumonic plague may develop a fever, headache, weakness, and pneumonia, with the latter developing “rapidly.”

While bubonic and septicemic plague may take a few days to set in, the incubation period for pneumonic plague may be just over a day, the CDC reports. It’s the only form that can be spread person-to-person, and it is considered the most serious form of the disease.

El Dorado County health officials did not specify which type of plague the patient had contracted.

Regardless of the type of plague, about 90% of those infected survive with quick treatment. Untreated, “plague is nearly always fatal,” the Cleveland Clinic said.

Infected fleas are largely to blame for plague cases that occur in the U.S. today, but the handling of infected animals — like cats, rabbits, rats, mice, and squirrels, according to New York’s Department of Health — has also been known to lead to the plague.

Earlier this year, northern Arizona recorded its first pneumonic plague-related death since 2007. Health officials have not said how the Arizona resident became infected. A case of bubonic plague reported in Oregon early last year, the first in the state since 2015, was believed to be brought on by a pet cat. In recent years, Colorado has reported a cat testing positive for septicemic plague and a cat, two prairie dog colonies, and a squirrel testing positive for bubonic plague.

To avoid the plague, health officials advise against feeding squirrels, chipmunks, and other wild rodents. Should you find a sick, injured, or dead rodent, you should not touch it. You should also not let your pets play with or pick up such a rodent.

When camping, officials say you should avoid sleeping or resting near animal burrows or where dead rodents have been spotted. You’ll also want to wear bug spray with DEET on your socks or pant cuffs to reduce flea exposure. If you have to bring your pet into an area where fleas may be present, experts suggest using flea control products.

Cats are highly susceptible to the plague and can, in turn, pose a threat to humans. Should your cat become ill after interacting with a rodent, it’s recommended that you take them to a veterinarian.

If you feel ill after being in an area where plague has occurred, or is known to occur, consult a physician.

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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for the plague, according to El Dorado County health officials. This is the first case of human plague in the country in five years.

The infected person is currently under the care of a medical professional and is recovering at home. It’s believed they may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area.

County officials were notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and health officials are investigating the situation.

“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.”

Plague is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis. Plague bacteria are most often transmitted by the bites of fleas that have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents.

Dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into the home. People can get plague when they are bitten by infected fleas. Plague can be prevented by avoiding contact with wild rodents and by keeping pets away from rodent burrows. Keeping dogs on a leash is important, as they can go into the forest and get their nose into one of these burrows.

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.

CDPH routinely monitors rodent populations for plague activity in California and closely coordinates with county health officials. Surveillance activities in El Dorado County from 2021 through 2024 found a total of 41 rodents (ground squirrels or chipmunks) with evidence of exposure to the plague bacterium. To date in 2025, four additional rodents have tested positive. All these rodents were identified in the Tahoe Basin.

Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious. Before the current case, the most recently reported case of human plague in El Dorado County was in 2020, likely exposed in the South Lake Tahoe area. Two people were reported 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.

Tips to prevent plague include the following:

State and local health officials will continue to monitor the situation and any plague-prone areas. To report a sick or dead rodent, please contact El Dorado County Environmental Management at (530) 573-3450. For more information about plague, visit the CDPH website at:https://www.cdph.ca.gov/progras/cid/dcdc/pages/plague.aspx