One US resident has tested positive for the plague as officials issue rare health warning

One California resident has tested positive for the plague, prompting officials to issue a rare health warning.

The unnamed individual had been camping in South Lake Tahoe, with El Dorado County officials believing an infected flea likely bit them.

The infected person is now under the care of a medical professional and recovering at home, according to health officials.

Officials have also outlined the rarity of human cases of plague, with the last reported case in the South Lake Tahoe area dating back to 2020.

Before that, two people tested positive for plague in 2015 after they were exposed in Yosemite National Park.

"Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County," said Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County’s Acting Director of Public Health.

"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," he added.

What is the plague?

A California resident has tested positive for the plague after camping in South Lake Tahoe (Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty Images)

The plague is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It usually spreads to humans through the bites of fleas that live on rats or other animals, but it can also spread person-to-person in certain forms.

While it can be life-threatening without immediate treatment, it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough.

There are three main types:

• Bubonic plague – causes swollen, painful lumps (called buboes) in the lymph nodes.
• Septicemic plague – infects the blood, leading to fever, bleeding, and organ failure.
• Pneumonic plague – infects the lungs and can spread through coughs and sneezes.

What are the symptoms of plague?

The plague usually spreads to humans through the bites of fleas that live on rats or other animals (George D. Lepp / Getty Images)

Symptoms of plague in humans may include:

• Sudden fever and chills
• Headache
• Nausea
• Muscle aches and fatigue
• Swollen, painful lymph nodes (buboes), usually in the armpit, groin, or neck

Meanwhile, the disease presents itself in pets as fever, low energy, loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes.

How to prevent plague

El Dorado County officials have issued pet owners with a series of warnings in light of the news (LightFieldStudios / Getty Images)

Health officials in El Dorado County have issued several tips to prevent plague, which include:

• Do not feed squirrels, chipmunks or other wild rodents.
• Never touch sick, injured or dead rodents.
• Do not allow your pets to play with or pick up sick, injured or dead rodents.
• Do not camp, sleep or rest near animal burrows or areas where dead rodents are observed.
• Look for and heed posted warning signs.
• Wear long pants tucked into boot tops and spray insect repellent containing DEET on socks and pant cuffs to reduce exposure to fleas.
• Leave pets at home if possible; otherwise, keep pets on a leash. Do not allow pets to approach sick or dead rodents or explore rodent burrows.
• Protect pets with flea control products.
• Pet cats are highly susceptible to plague and can pose a direct threat to humans. Keep cats away from rodents. Consult a veterinarian if your cat becomes sick after being in contact with rodents.
• If you get sick after being in an area where plague is known to occur, consult a physician and tell them you may have been exposed to plague.

How rare are human cases of plague?

The plague is very rare in America with an average of seven cases reported annually, as per the CDC (Getty Stock Images)

As we say, the plague is very rare in America, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reporting an average of seven human cases annually - most of which occur in rural areas of the Western United States.

What are the plague reports this year?

With that being said, there have been several cases of the plague - in both humans and animals - that have been reported across the US this year.

Just earlier this month, a cat in Colorado tested positive for the plague and died, and a man from Arizona who contracted the plague died from the disease in July.

He was rushed to a medical centre with severe symptoms, but tragically died the same day, with his autopsy later revealing the bacterium for plague.

You can find out more about the plague on the official CDC website here.