A South Lake Tahoe resident contracted plague while camping, El Dorado County health officials announced Tuesday.
The infected person is recovering at home under medical care, according to an El Dorado County Environmental Management Division and Public Health Division press release. The California Department of Health informed them about the positive case. Officials withheld additional details about the patient’s identity and condition.
“It’s believed that the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in South Lake Tahoe area. Health officials are investigating the situation,” the press release read.
Fleas most frequently transmit plague bacteria after picking it up from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents, health officials warned. Dogs and cats can also carry plague-infected fleas into residences.
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. https://t.co/BQZrOHRHV0
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 20, 2025
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” El Dorado County’s Acting Director of Public Health Kyle Fliflet said. “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.”
Routine monitoring from 2021 to 2024 detected 41 rodents showing indications of exposure to plague bacteria in the county, according to the press release. Four more tested positive in 2025, all within the Tahoe Basin. Human plague cases remain rare in the area. The last reported case occurred in 2020, while two people tested positive in 2015 after exposure in Yosemite National Park. All three individuals recovered. (RELATED: Texas Summer Camp Evacuates Dozens Before Deadly Flooding)
Symptoms typically appear within two weeks and include fnausea, fever, weakness and swollen lymph nodes, according to the press release. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment is effective.
Officials advise avoiding contact with wild rodents, wearing long pants tucked inside boots, using insect repellent when outdoors and other methods to evade the plague.
