A resident of the Lake Tahoe region (United States) has tested positive for the plague, according to an announcement by local authorities on Tuesday. They suggested a flea infection while the victim was camping in the area.

The region had been spared from the disease in humans since 2020. A resident of the Lake Tahoe area tested positive for the plague, California health officials announced in a statement Tuesday. They believed the cause was a flea infection while the victim, who is currently recovering at home, was camping in the area, according to CNN.

"Plague occurs naturally in many parts of California, including the high-elevation areas of El Dorado County. It is important for everyone to take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially when walking, hiking, or camping in areas where wild rodents are present," said Kyle Fliflet, the county's interim public health director.

To prevent infection, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests using insect repellent in areas of potential exposure and flea control on pets. The organization also cautioned against allowing pets that roam freely in areas where the infection is endemic to sleep on your bed.

7 cases of plague reported each year in the United States

According to the CDC, seven cases of human plague are reported each year in the United States. The infection is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected flea or through contact with infected animals. The same source also noted that most plague cases tend to occur in rural areas of the western United States.

Symptoms of infection usually appear within two weeks of exposure and may include fever, chills, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. Plague infections can be treated with common antibiotics.

The California Department of Public Health regularly monitors rodent populations for plague activity and has identified four positive rodent infections in the Tahoe Basin this year. According to El Dorado County officials, prior to this infection, the last positive case in the region was in 2020.