California resident tests positive for plague
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A Lake Tahoe area resident has tested positive for plague, California health officials said Tuesday. Officials said they believed the resident was infected after being bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area.
The person is recovering at home and under the care of medical professionals, El Dorado County officials said in a news release.
'Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,' said Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County acting director of public health. '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.'
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there's an average of seven cases of human plague reported annually in the United States. The infection is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis and is spread to humans through infected flea bites or contact with infected animals. Symptoms of infection tend to occur within two weeks of exposure and can include fever, chills, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. Plague infections can be treated with common antibiotics.
The CDC notes that most plague cases tend to occur in rural areas in the western United States.
The California Department of Public Health routinely 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 area was in 2020.
To prevent infection, the CDC suggests reducing potential rodent habitats by clearing brush, rock piles, and junk; using insect repellant like DEET when in areas of possible exposure; using flea control product on pets and not allowing pets that roam freely in areas endemic with infection to sleep on your bed.
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Time Magazine
5 minutes ago
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A California Resident Tests Positive for Plague
A person in California recently tested positive for plague, according to El Dorado County health officials. The individual has been treated and is recovering at home. About seven people get infected by the bacterium responsible for plague, Yersinia pestis, each year, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most U.S. cases occur in western states including Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada; in July, an Arizona man died from plague. Here's what to know about plague in the U.S. How do people get plague? People can contract plague after being bitten by infected fleas or touching infected animals like rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, rabbits, mountain lions, ferrets, and even dogs and cats. El Dorado County health officials said in a statement that the person was likely infected by a flea while camping. 'Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,' said the county's acting director of public health, Kyle Fliflet, in the statement. What are the symptoms of plague? There are three types of plague: bubonic, which caused widespread death throughout the world in the 14th century; septicemic, which occurs when the infection spreads to the blood; and pneumonic, when the infection burrows into the lungs. All forms cause fever and weakness, and more than 80% of plague cases in the U.S. have been the bubonic form. Read More: What to Know About the Horned 'Zombie' Rabbits Hopping Around Colorado Dr. Scott Roberts, medical director of infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health System and assistant professor of infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine, says that bubonic plague is centered in the lymph nodes; the bacteria travel to the closest lymph nodes in the body from where an infection-trigging bite occurs, which leads to an inflammatory reaction including swelling of the nodes. Plague can then progress into the blood, in which case it becomes septicemic. Finally, from the bloodstream, the bacteria can spread to the lungs, leading to pneumonic plague, which can cause shortness of breath and chest pain. Is plague contagious? Only pneumonic plague can be spread from one infected person to another, since the bacteria can be transmitted in droplets that are released when a person sneezes or coughs. This can cause disease in as little as a day after transmission. Therefore, it's 'not a hard-and-fast rule' that plague progresses from bubonic to septicemic to pneumonic forms, says Roberts. For example, a health care worker in close contact with someone with pneumonic plague could inhale infectious particles from the patient; those particles could then travel directly to their lungs and result in pneumonic plague. Read More: 10 Symptoms ER Doctors Say to Never Ignore He says that it's not entirely clear why some people will recover from bubonic plague, while others continue to progress to more severe disease. Some of the usual factors—such as weaker immune systems in the very young and the elderly—are likely responsible, but the driving factors aren't well known. What is the treatment for plague? Because it's caused by a bacterial infection, plague can be treated with antibiotics. But it's important to start treatment as early as possible; left untreated, plague can be fatal. Do animals infected with plague get sick? Some species do get sick from the bacterial infection, but others appear to be able to manage low-level, mild infections, which makes them reservoirs for the bacterium. Cats in particular seem to be susceptible to infection, making them potential transmitters to people. In some regions of the world where the bacteria are more common, Yersinia pestis can cause large numbers of animals to die off, which can make people in the area even more vulnerable. 'When the animals die off in an outbreak, the fleas try to find warm-blooded hosts, and those are likely human hosts,' says Roberts. 'So sometimes animal die-offs in a region can precede human cases.' How can I protect myself from plague? Health officials urge people to avoid feeding wild animals, especially rodents and squirrels, and to never touch sick animals. Using insect repellent when outdoors, especially while camping or hiking, can also reduce the risk of being bitten by infected fleas. For dogs and cats, it's important to protect them by using flea-control products and ensure they aren't exploring rodent burrows. Is there a vaccine for plague? Older versions exist, but neither the World Health Organization nor U.S. health officials recommend them. The U.S. stopped making the vaccine available in 1999 after safety concerns and studies that questioned its effectiveness. Researchers are, however, exploring ways to develop more effective vaccines.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
California resident tests positive for plague in Lake Tahoe, officials say. What are the symptoms and how common is it?
The California Department of Health has been notified of this recent case. A Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for the plague, California health officials confirmed on Tuesday. The resident is believed to have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in South Lake Tahoe. The infected individual is recovering at home and is receiving medical care, El Dorado County officials said in a press release. 'Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,' Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County's acting director of public health, said in the release. '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.' Though extremely rare, humans may still contract the plague. Prior to the current case, the most recently reported case in El Dorado County was in 2020. Exposure was also likely to have occurred in the South Lake Tahoe area. Two individuals were reported with the human plague in 2015 in Yosemite National Park when they were exposed to infected rodents or their fleas. Those were the first reported human cases in the state since 2006. All infected individuals have since recovered. Outside of California, a human case of the plague was detected in Pueblo County, Colo., in July 2024. Prior to that, a child in Colorado died after contracting the illness in 2021. What is the plague? The plague is a rare disease that affects humans and other mammals. It is caused by a germ called Yersinia pestis. Humans typically get the plague through a flea bite from an infected rodent or by handling an infected animal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Mayo Clinic lists these animals as potential carriers of the plague in the western United States: Rats, mice and voles Squirrels, rabbits and prairie dogs Ground squirrels and chipmunks Pet cats and dogs, as well as coyotes and wild cats may also be infected with the plague if they eat small animals with the disease and pick up their fleas. What are the symptoms? There are three types of plague. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms can vary depending on which type is contracted. Bubonic plague Bubonic plague causes swelling of the lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes, also known as buboes, appear in the armpits, groin or neck with this type of plague. The size of these buboes vary between less than half an inch to about 4 inches. Additional symptoms of bubonic plague can include: Sudden high fever and chills Headache, tiredness and not feeling well in general Weakness, muscle aches Skin sores (in rare cases) Septicemic plague Septicemic plague happens when plague bacteria multiply in the bloodstream. Buboes may not be present in this case. Early symptoms include: Sudden high fever and chills Extreme weakness, stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting More serious symptoms can develop with advanced disease and organ failure. These symptoms include: Bleeding from the mouth, nose or rectum, or under the skin Signs of shock, such as seizure, rash and low blood pressure Blackening and death of tissue (gangrene), most commonly affecting fingers, toes, ears and nose Pneumonic plague Pneumonic plague affects the lungs. While it may begin in the lungs, the disease can also spread from infected lymph nodes to the lungs. Symptoms can show up within hours after exposure and quickly worsen. These symptoms include: Sudden high fever and chills Cough, with bloody mucus Difficulty or irregular breathing Chest pain, headache and weakness Upset stomach and vomiting How common is the plague? The risk of getting the plague is very low, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the United States, an average of seven people get the plague every year. The risk of death for those who contract the plague in the U.S. is about 11%. How do you treat it? The plague can be treated with antibiotics. People who contract pneumonic plague are isolated during treatment to prevent the spread of the disease. Those caring for infected people should wear protective gear like masks, eyewear, gowns and gloves. How do you prevent it? There is no vaccine available for the plague at this time, though antibiotics can help prevent infection if you are exposed to it. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
California resident tests positive for plague in Lake Tahoe, officials say. What are the symptoms and how common is it?
The California Department of Health has been notified of this recent case. A Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for the plague, California health officials confirmed on Tuesday. The resident is believed to have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in South Lake Tahoe. The infected individual is recovering at home and is receiving medical care, El Dorado County officials said in a press release. 'Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,' Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County's acting director of public health, said in the release. '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.' Though extremely rare, humans may still contract the plague. Prior to the current case, the most recently reported case in El Dorado County was in 2020. Exposure was also likely to have occurred in the South Lake Tahoe area. Two individuals were reported with the human plague in 2015 in Yosemite National Park when they were exposed to infected rodents or their fleas. Those were the first reported human cases in the state since 2006. All infected individuals have since recovered. Outside of California, a human case of the plague was detected in Pueblo County, Colo., in July 2024. Prior to that, a child in Colorado died after contracting the illness in 2021. What is the plague? The plague is a rare disease that affects humans and other mammals. It is caused by a germ called Yersinia pestis. Humans typically get the plague through a flea bite from an infected rodent or by handling an infected animal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Mayo Clinic lists these animals as potential carriers of the plague in the western United States: Rats, mice and voles Squirrels, rabbits and prairie dogs Ground squirrels and chipmunks Pet cats and dogs, as well as coyotes and wild cats may also be infected with the plague if they eat small animals with the disease and pick up their fleas. What are the symptoms? There are three types of plague. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms can vary depending on which type is contracted. Bubonic plague Bubonic plague causes swelling of the lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes, also known as buboes, appear in the armpits, groin or neck with this type of plague. The size of these buboes vary between less than half an inch to about 4 inches. Additional symptoms of bubonic plague can include: Sudden high fever and chills Headache, tiredness and not feeling well in general Weakness, muscle aches Skin sores (in rare cases) Septicemic plague Septicemic plague happens when plague bacteria multiply in the bloodstream. Buboes may not be present in this case. Early symptoms include: Sudden high fever and chills Extreme weakness, stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting More serious symptoms can develop with advanced disease and organ failure. These symptoms include: Bleeding from the mouth, nose or rectum, or under the skin Signs of shock, such as seizure, rash and low blood pressure Blackening and death of tissue (gangrene), most commonly affecting fingers, toes, ears and nose Pneumonic plague Pneumonic plague affects the lungs. While it may begin in the lungs, the disease can also spread from infected lymph nodes to the lungs. Symptoms can show up within hours after exposure and quickly worsen. These symptoms include: Sudden high fever and chills Cough, with bloody mucus Difficulty or irregular breathing Chest pain, headache and weakness Upset stomach and vomiting How common is the plague? The risk of getting the plague is very low, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the United States, an average of seven people get the plague every year. The risk of death for those who contract the plague in the U.S. is about 11%. How do you treat it? The plague can be treated with antibiotics. People who contract pneumonic plague are isolated during treatment to prevent the spread of the disease. Those caring for infected people should wear protective gear like masks, eyewear, gowns and gloves. How do you prevent it? There is no vaccine available for the plague at this time, though antibiotics can help prevent infection if you are exposed to it.
