6 years ago

First Case of Plague in California in 5 years

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Jaia graduated from Cornell University with a BA in the College Scholar Program where she... Read More

This week, California reported its first case of plague in five years.

A resident in South Lake Tahoe tested positive for the plague and El Dorado County health officials believe that the person, who is an avid walker, may have been bitten by an infected flea while walking their dog along the Truckee River Corridor or in the Tahoe Keys area.

Plague bacteria can be passed through rodents or fleas to humans, but dogs and cats can also spread the disease. The plague is responsible for the deadliest pandemic in human history with an estimated 50 million deaths in the Middle Ages. If treated quickly enough, modern antibiotics can prevent complications and death. Still, it is a major threat to both humans and animals.

El Dorado County’s Health and Human Services stated that symptoms, including fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes, usually show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea.

“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,” said El Dorado County Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams. “Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious.”

El Dorado County officials tell residents to avoid contact with wild rodents, tuck long Pants into boots, use repellent on themselves and their pets to avoid flea bites, keep pets away from wild rodents, and other measures to limit exposure.

The plague recently resurged with cases reported in China, Mongolia, and the US. In July, a 15-year-old boy in western Mongolia died of bubonic plague that he contracted after eating an infected marmot.

The World Health Organization categorized the plague as a re-emerging disease with approximately 1,000 to 2,000 cases every year which even doesn’t include unreported cases.

Read more of our coverage on the bubonic plague in Mongolia and about public health dangers of consuming wild meat.

Scientists believe that the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus, started at an exotic animal market in Wuhan, China. You can help stop the incidence of viruses like these by signing this petition to ban the wildlife trade.

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