Health officials in California have confirmed that a resident of South Lake Tahoe has tested positive for the plague, a rare but still serious infectious disease most commonly spread to humans through the bites of infected fleas. The El Dorado County Department of Public Health announced the case on Wednesday, noting that the individual most likely contracted the disease while camping in the area.
While the word “plague” often conjures images of the catastrophic pandemics that ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages, experts stress that modern cases are very different thanks to medical advancements. Today, the plague can be treated effectively with antibiotics if it is caught early, and outcomes are generally positive with proper medical care. Still, health authorities are warning residents and visitors to exercise caution when outdoors in areas where fleas and wild rodents may be present. The infected resident is currently recovering at home, and officials say there is no evidence of additional cases or a broader threat to the community at this time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, human cases of plague are extremely uncommon in the United States, with an average of just seven cases reported annually across the country.
These cases typically occur in rural or semi-rural parts of the western states, particularly in regions where people are more likely to come into contact with wildlife such as ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and other small mammals that can harbor infected fleas. While the disease remains rare, its persistence in natural settings means it has not been entirely eradicated. Plague occurs in three main forms—bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic—depending on how the bacteria affect the body.
The bubonic form, which involves swollen and painful lymph nodes, is the most common. Symptoms often include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches, appearing within a few days of exposure. When diagnosed quickly, it is highly treatable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, the infection can progress to more severe forms that are harder to manage. In this South Lake Tahoe case, health officials believe the resident was bitten by an infected flea while camping, which is a well-documented mode of transmission.
They emphasize that while plague can sound alarming, the risk of widespread outbreaks in modern times is minimal because of antibiotics and the quick response of public health systems. However, they also stress the importance of taking precautions, particularly in environments where fleas and wild animals are present. Officials advise people who live in or visit rural or wooded areas to protect themselves by wearing insect repellent, using flea control products on pets, and avoiding close contact with rodents or their nesting areas. Campers should avoid feeding squirrels, chipmunks, or other wild animals, and should not handle sick or dead animals found in the wild.
Pets are another potential pathway for fleas to enter homes, so keeping cats and dogs on flea-prevention medications is strongly recommended. In the past, sporadic cases of plague have been reported in California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, usually connected to outdoor activities in areas where fleas are known to carry the bacteria. Health departments in these states routinely monitor rodent populations for signs of plague activity as part of their disease surveillance programs. In El Dorado County, officials say they are working to ensure residents understand both the rarity of the disease and the steps they can take to avoid exposure. They stress that while this diagnosis is concerning, it does not indicate a broader outbreak. Instead, it serves as a reminder that natural reservoirs of plague still exist in parts of the American West, and that vigilance remains necessary.
The infected resident is reported to be recovering well at home under medical supervision, and no hospitalizations have been required. Plague cases can sometimes generate fear because of the disease’s historical associations, but modern health officials want the public to know that the situation today is vastly different than it was centuries ago. With effective antibiotics and public health infrastructure in place, isolated cases are manageable, and outbreaks on the scale of the Black Death are virtually impossible. Still, public health experts caution that awareness is key, and that people should seek medical attention quickly if they develop symptoms such as sudden fever, chills, or swollen lymph nodes after possible exposure to fleas or rodents.
Prompt treatment can make the difference between a mild illness and a life-threatening infection. For now, the South Lake Tahoe case underscores both the rarity and the reality of plague in the modern era. While there is no cause for widespread panic, there is reason to take reasonable precautions when spending time outdoors in areas where the bacteria are known to circulate. The El Dorado County Department of Public Health continues to monitor the situation and reminds the public that simple preventive measures can greatly reduce the risk of encountering infected fleas.
