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2w ago

South Lake Tahoe Resident Diagnosed With Bubonic Plague After Camping Trip

Officials say the rare infection reflects ongoing plague circulation in Sierra Nevada rodents, with timely antibiotics usually effective.

A sign with the logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center on Oct. 5, 2014, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America/TNS)

Overview

  • El Dorado County confirmed the bubonic plague case and said the resident is recovering at home under medical supervision.
  • Investigators believe an infected flea transmitted Yersinia pestis during outdoor exposure in the South Lake Tahoe area.
  • Surveillance in the Tahoe Basin detected four plague‑positive rodents in 2025 and 41 from 2021 through 2024, indicating continued local activity.
  • Public health guidance emphasizes leashing pets with flea control, avoiding rodent burrows and sick or dead animals, and using repellents and protective clothing.
  • The CDC reports about seven U.S. human cases per year, and recent California history includes a 2020 El Dorado County case and two Yosemite infections in 2015.