California Resident Tests Positive for Plague After Lake Tahoe Camping Trip

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (August 21, 2025) -strong> - A South Lake Tahoe resident tested positive for the plague. Health officials think this was due to a flea bite from a recent camping trip, according to the California Department of Public Health.

A camper in the South Lake Tahoe area went to the doctor. They had fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. Local authorities confirmed the case on Thursday. The patient is now recovering at home under medical care.

Kyle Fliflet, Acting Director of El Dorado County Public Health, said, “Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including the higher elevations of El Dorado County.” Be cautious for yourself and your pets when you’re outside. This is key when walking, hiking, or camping in areas with wild rodents.

What Is the Plague?

The plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis./em>. It is usually passed to humans by bites from infected fleas. These fleas often feed on wild rodents, such as squirrels and chipmunks. There are three primary forms of the disease:

Bubonic plague, marked by painful, swollen lymph nodes (“buboes”)
Septicemic plague is an infection in the bloodstream. It leads to fever, bleeding, and organ failure.
Pneumonic plague, which infects the lungs and can spread person-to-person via respiratory droplets

The bubonic form is the most common in the modern era. Thanks to antibiotics and better sanitation, the U.S. sees only about seven plague cases each year. Most of these happen in the western states.

Public Health Response

El Dorado County health officials are checking to see if more exposures happened. They urge campers and hikers to:

Use insect repellent containing DEET
Wear long pants and tuck pant legs into boots
Avoid handling dead or sick wild rodents
Keep pets away from rodent burrows and carcasses

Early treatment with antibiotics is very effective. More than 90% of patients survive if therapy is started right away.