A person in California has tested positive for the Black Death, the same disease that once wiped out tens of millions across Europe — and it happened in one of the state’s most visited outdoor destinations: Lake Tahoe.
The unidentified resident is believed to have contracted the plague after being bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area, according to public health officials. The patient is now under the care of a medical professional and recovering at home, but the news has raised fresh concerns about the ongoing presence of this rare yet dangerous disease in parts of the U.S.
This is El Dorado County’s first confirmed plague case since 2020, and the second in just five years. Before 2020, the last reported case in California was in 2015.
California resident tests positive for the plague. Officials blame Lake Tahoe flea https://t.co/VmafJoEeIH pic.twitter.com/NOhBHGBx27
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 20, 2025
The news comes just weeks after a plague-related death in Colorado, making it the second known U.S. case this summer. That patient did not survive.
The plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is typically transmitted through fleas that feed on infected rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, and rats. It is one of the deadliest diseases in human history and can still pose serious health risks today if not treated quickly.
Health experts say plague is naturally present in certain wildlife populations in higher elevation areas of the western United States, especially in parts of California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. These regions see more rodent activity that increases the risk of plague transmission to humans and pets.
Symptoms usually appear within one to eight days of exposure and often include sudden fever, chills, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue. Many patients also develop painful swollen lymph nodes, known as buboes, especially in the groin or armpit. If left untreated, the infection can spread into the bloodstream or lungs — where it becomes almost always fatal without immediate care.
A resident in South Lake Tahoe, California, has tested positive for plague, according to local health officials. The person is believed to have been bitten by an infected flea while camping, officials said.
Read more: https://t.co/6bD8gzfe8A pic.twitter.com/4PxFJO2UxX
— ABC News (@ABC) August 20, 2025
Modern antibiotics are effective, but delayed treatment can quickly turn the disease deadly. According to the CDC, the mortality rate of untreated plague cases in the U.S. ranges from 30% to 60%, and close to 100% when it progresses to septicemic or pneumonic plague.
In El Dorado County alone, wildlife surveillance between 2021 and 2025 detected evidence of plague in at least 45 squirrels and chipmunks in the Lake Tahoe Basin. These animals can carry the bacteria without always appearing sick, making it harder for campers and hikers to know they’re at risk.
Kyle Fliflet, acting director of El Dorado County Public Health, warned that people should take steps to protect themselves and their pets when spending time outdoors.
“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,” Fliflet said in a statement.
Precautions include wearing long pants tucked into boots, using insect repellent with DEET, and avoiding contact with wild animals, especially rodents or carcasses. People should also avoid camping near animal burrows and refrain from feeding wildlife.
The case in California follows a deadly case in Arizona last month, where a resident died from pneumonic plague, the most dangerous form of the illness. Unlike other types, pneumonic plague can spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing, raising concern among health officials.
Plague cases in the U.S. remain rare — with an average of seven cases per year, according to the CDC — but the bacteria continues to live in certain animal populations in the western states.
A South Lake Tahoe resident is recovering after testing positive for the plague.
Get more when you download the free KTVN app #fyp #southlake #tahoe #california #plague pic.twitter.com/xC7O4gktGH
— 2 News Nevada (@KTVN) August 20, 2025
Officials continue to urge people traveling or living in higher-risk areas to stay informed, stay cautious, and report any signs of illness after outdoor exposure.
For now, the Lake Tahoe patient is expected to recover, but the reminder is clear: Even in 2025, the Black Death hasn’t disappeared.
