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Authorities Issue Urgent Warning As American Tests Positive For Plague That Killed Millions

A health warning has been issued after a man from California tested positive for the plague.

The plague was first known to have been in the U.S. in the 1900s, after rat–infested ships traveled from infected areas and caused epidemics in cities.

The bubonic plague likely began in Central Asia, causing painful and swollen lymph nodes (buboes), a fever, and was found to be fatal in 70 percent of cases.

Within four years, it swept through the world, including Italy, France, Spain, England, Germany, Scandinavia, and Russia in 1347, and is thought to be responsible for 25–50 million deaths in Europe.

But the California Department of Health has now been notified that a South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive, as county officials have reported that the individual is receiving medical care.

In a statement, Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado county’s director of public health, said: “Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher-elevation areas of El Dorado county.”

Health experts suggest that the plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

It’s most often transmitted by the bites of fleas ‘that have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents.’

But officials have said that dogs and cats can also carry infected fleas into the home.

While human cases of the plague are ‘extremely rare,’ the symptoms can be very serious.

Signs typically appear two weeks following exposure, but can be very easily treated with antibiotics if caught early.

Issuing a warning, the public health director added: “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.”

Officials believe the infected individual ‘may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping.’

The last reported case of plague in South Lake Tahoe was in 2020, and before that two people tested positive in 2015 after being exposed in Yosemite National Park.

Officials noted that they routinely monitor rodent populations across California for plague activity.

And so far this year, four rodents have tested positive, all within the Tahoe Basin.

But it’s not the first time that the warning has been issued.

In 2021, the U.S. Forest Service announced it was closing multiple popular sites at Lake Tahoe for several days, after discovering plague in the chipmunk population.

Colorado health officials also confirmed a human case of the plague last year.

It’s estimated that there are seven human plague cases each year in the U.S., with most occurring in the west.

Related Article: Experts Issue Warning As Infected ‘Frankenstein’ Rabbits With ‘Tentacles’ Have Invaded The U.S.

Related Article: Fatal Warning Issued As ‘Mega-Rat’ Discovered In Home

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