Recent California headlines have put the spotlight on potentially fatal illnesses that can be transmitted to humans by common pests.

Here’s what to know about the infections and how to avoid them

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Plague

The news: A South Lake Tahoe resident contracted plague this summer, possibly from a flea bite while camping.

How common is it? The Centers for Disease Control says an average of seven human plague cases are reported each year in the United States. It’s most common in Western states, particularly northern New Mexico and northern Arizona.

Is this the same as bubonic plague? Bubonic is the most common of the three forms of plague. The name refers to one of the symptoms, painful lymph nodes.

Symptoms: Early signs include fever, headache, chills, weakness. It is treated

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