A resident of South Lake Tahoe, California, has tested positive for the plague, according to local health officials. The individual is believed to have contracted the disease from an infected flea while camping.

In a related incident, a person in Arizona died from the plague last month. The disease is caused by bacteria that typically results in about seven cases reported nationally each year, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Plague is naturally found in certain areas of the western United States, where it circulates among wild rodents and other animals.

Humans can become infected through bites from infected fleas or by handling infected animals. Symptoms of the plague include fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes, which usually appear within two weeks of exposure.

Kyle Fliflet, acting director of public health for El Dorado County, emphasized the importance of taking precautions. "Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County. It's important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking, or camping in areas where wild rodents are present," he stated.

The plague can be treated effectively with antibiotics, but timely administration is crucial to prevent serious illness or death. According to the latest CDC data, at least 15 people have died from the plague since 2000. Health officials have indicated that the risk of exposure to the public, as well as the risk of human-to-human transmission, remains low.