Person tests positive for the plague after being bitten by infected flea, health officials say

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California ( KOLO /Gray News) - Health officials say a South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for the plague.

According to El Dorado County health officials, an unidentified resident is under the care of a medical professional and is recovering at home after testing positive.

Officials say they believe the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the Lake Tahoe area.

“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” Kyle Fliflet, with El Dorado County Public Health, said. “It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors.”

The bacteria that cause the plague, Yersinia pestis, are most often transmitted by the bite of fleas that hav