An individual in California has tested positive for the plague for the first time since 2015. El Dorado County, California, health officials believe the person was bitten by an infected flea while walking their dog in South Lake Tahoe. The patient's identity has not been disclosed; however, officials have confirmed that the person lives in the area. The patient has been treated by medical professionals and is recovering well at home. Health officials are actively investigating the incident.
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Between 2016 and 2019, a total of 20 rodents in El Dorado County (where the plague is naturally present) were identified as having the plague. Prior to the current case, there were two cases in California involving individuals who were exposed to infected rodents and/or fleas in Yosemite National Park.
What is the plague?
The plague is an infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, typically spread to humans via bites from infected fleas. Humans can also get the plague if they come in direct contact with bodily tissues or fluids from an infected animal or by inhaling infected respiratory droplets. The most common form is the bubonic plague, although it is still rare in humans.
There are two other types of plague.
There are three types of plague all caused by the same bacteria. The main type is the bubonic plague. If the infection spreads to the lungs or initially presents in the lungs, it is known as the pneumonic plague. Pneumonic plague can easily be spread from person to person and is particularly fatal, since it often comes on quickly.
Plague can spread to the blood.
Once the infection spreads to an indivdual's bloodstream, it is known as septicemic plague. This form of the plague causes blood clots throughout the body and is typically fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skin and other tissues may bleed, turn black, and/or die.
Early detection is crucial.
Because the plague can progress quickly in human patients and spread easily, early detection and treatment are incredibly important for both the sick individual's chance of survival as well as for avoiding an outbreak. Symptoms typically present within two to six days of exposure—or sooner if the exposure is airborne.
These are the symptoms.
Fever, swollen and painful lymph nodes, nausea and vomiting, weakness and fatigue, and pain in the extremities are all symptoms of the plague. Pneumonic plague can also cause coughing, with or without blood. And again, septicemic plague can cause bleeding and blackening of bodily tissues.
Plague is rare but serious.
Though it is naturally present in certain geographic regions, including parts of the United States like the Lake Tahoe region, the plague is still rare. The CDC reports that in recent decades there have been an average of only seven human plague cases per year in the United States. However, two cases were already reported in New Mexico this year, with one being deadly. The plague is typically treated effectively with antibiotics, with more than 80% recovering, but the mortality rate is as high as 100% if left untreated.
Take precautions.
To minimize the risk of a plague infection, individuals should treat their pets with flea protection; avoid contact with both dead and living rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, and mice or rats; keep away from rodent burrows; use insect repellent containing DEET in wooded areas; and check for signs warning of plague presence.
