Highlights:
- A California resident has tested positive for the plague after camping in South Lake Tahoe
- Officials believe the infection came from a flea bite; the individual is recovering at home
- Plague remains rare in the US, with an average of seven cases a year
A resident of California has been diagnosed with the plague after likely being bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area. Health officials confirmed the rare case this week and said the patient is recovering at home under medical supervision.
Case under investigation
El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency confirmed the infection on Tuesday, noting that state health authorities are investigating the source of exposure. “It’s believed the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area,” officials said in a statement.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) alerted local authorities to the case and is assisting with the inquiry.
Plague in California
Plague is naturally present in parts of California, particularly higher-elevation regions such as El Dorado County. It is most often spread by fleas that feed on infected rodents, including squirrels and chipmunks.
Between 2021 and 2024, officials recorded 41 rodents in El Dorado County that showed signs of plague exposure. In 2025, four more plague-positive rodents have already been found in the Tahoe Basin.
Rare but serious disease
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human plague infections remain rare, with around seven cases reported nationwide each year, mainly in western states such as Arizona and New Mexico.
Symptoms typically begin with the bubonic form of the disease, which causes fever, chills, weakness, headache and swollen lymph nodes. Without treatment, it can progress to more serious forms such as septicemic plague, which can lead to internal bleeding.
Recent history
The last human case of plague in El Dorado County was recorded in 2020, also linked to South Lake Tahoe. In 2015, two people contracted the disease after exposure in Yosemite National Park; both were treated successfully. Before that, the most recent human cases in California dated back to 2006.
Public health advice
El Dorado County’s acting public health director, Kyle Fliflet, urged residents and visitors to take precautions: “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.”
Officials stressed that while the infection is serious, the patient is receiving medical care and is recovering well.
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