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Lake Tahoe resident tests positive for plague after flea bite while camping.
The last human case in the area was reported in 2020.
A Lake Tahoe area resident has tested positive for plague, California health officials confirmed. The individual, who is recovering at home under medical supervision, is believed to have contracted the infection after being bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area.
Kyle Fliflet, the county’s acting public health director, said, “Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado 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.”
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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an average of seven human plague cases each year across the country. The bacterial infection, caused by Yersinia pestis, is most often transmitted to humans through flea bites or contact with infected animals. Symptoms typically appear within two weeks and include fever, chills, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. Plague can be treated effectively with antibiotics if diagnosed early.
The California Department of Public Health routinely monitors rodent populations for plague activity and has detected four infected rodents in the Tahoe Basin so far this year. The last human case in the area was reported in 2020.
To prevent infection, the CDC recommends clearing rodent habitats around homes, applying insect repellent when outdoors, using flea control products on pets and avoiding sleeping with pets that roam in areas where plague is present.
- Location :
California, USA
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