California resident catches the plague, likely from infected flea at Lake Tahoe, officials say

Health officials in California identified a positive case of plague in a Lake Tahoe resident.

Health officials in California identified a positive case of plague in a Lake Tahoe resident.

El Dorado County officials said in a release that they have notified the California Department of Health that a resident from South Lake Tahoe has plague.

The person is recovering at home and is receiving medical care, the El Dorado County release said. No other information about the person or the person's condition was released.

Officials believe an infected flea bit the sick person, who was camping in the South Lake Tahoe area, the release said. Officials are investigating.

Plague is caused by bacteria that are most often transmitted via bites from fleas that were already carrying them after having picked them up from squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents, according to health officials. Dogs and cats could also bring plague-infected fleas into homes.