South Lake Tahoe residents tested positive for the plague – yes, it is estimated that the same pest-borne disease killed 25 million Europeans in the Middle Ages.
According to El Dorado County health officials, the person is believed to have a rare and dangerous disease after being bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area. Health officials say patients are cared for by medical professionals and recover from home.
“The plague naturally exists in many areas of California, including high-altitude areas in El Dorado County,” Kyle Fliflet, the county’s acting public health director, said in a statement. “It is important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially when walking, hiking and/or camping in areas where wild rodents appear.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plague is a very serious disease, but can be treated with easily accessible antibiotics. The earlier patients diagnosed receive treatment, the greater their chances of a complete recovery, the more likely they are to have.
The disease is caused by bacteria Yersinia diesel El Dorado County health officials say the most common thing is the transmission of bites from infected fleas to humans. The disease can also be transmitted through infected bites or exposure to infected dogs and cats.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the disease is extremely rare, with an average of 7 people infected each year. However, because the potential for untreated death is high, it must be taken seriously.
Health officials said the last plague reported in El Dorado County happened in 2020 and is believed to have been spreading in the South Lake Tahoe area. Two California plague cases were reported in 2015, possibly due to infected fleas or rodents in Yosemite National Park. Health officials said the three patients were treated and fully recovered.
According to the California Department of Public Health, 45 species of ground squirrels or chipmunks have been recorded from 2021 to now, and there is evidence of exposure to plague bacteria in the Lake Tahoe Basin, which usually monitors rodent populations of plague activity across the state.
El Dorado County health officials urge residents and visitors to avoid rodents or ticks while exploring the wilderness around Lake Tahoe. Measures include wearing long pants to hide in boots, using deet to deworm, never feeding or touching rodents, avoiding camping near animal caves or dead rodents, and leaving dogs at home where possible.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that more than 80% of plague cases in the United States appear in the form of foam, from which patients will experience swollen and painful lymph nodes called bubble balls. This form of the disease is often caused by bites from infected tobacco, and symptoms such as foam, fever, headache, chills and weakness develop within two to eight days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In July, an Arizona resident died from the pneumonia form of the plague, which could develop when bacteria spread to the lungs of patients with untreated foamy plague. This is the worst form of the plague, with only one day incubation period. This is also the only form of plague that can be spread from humans to humans.
In the Middle Ages, infected rats were blamed for the death of black Europeans in the 14th century. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the last plague outbreak in the United States was caused by urban rats occurred in 1924 and 1925.
