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A resident of California has tested positive for plague, marking the first human case of the disease in the state in five years, according to health officials.
The case was confirmed Monday August 17 in a resident of South Lake Tahoe, according to a declaration of the El Dorado County Health and Social Services Department.
The individual is described as an “avid walker” who may have been bitten by an infected flea while walking his dog in the Tahoe Keys area or along the “Truckee River Corridor” north of Highway 50, according to the press release.
“The plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including the higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” said Dr. Nancy Williams, public health official for El Dorado County, in the press release. “It is important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when they are outdoors, especially when walking, hiking and / or camping in areas where rodents are wild are present. Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious.
The patient is currently recovering at home under the supervision of medical professionals, the statement said.
Related: Images of a killer: a plague gallery
Plague is caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis, and the disease is perhaps best known to cause the Black death in Europe in the 1300s. Infection still occurs today, although it is relatively rare and usually treatable with common antibiotics. In the United States, about seven cases of plague occur each year, on average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Humans can catch plague through flea bites or through contact with the tissues or bodily fluids of an infected animal, according to the CDC.
The last known cases of the plague in California occurred in 2015 in two visitors to Yosemite National Park, the statement said. A number of factors may play a role in when and where plague cases appear, including human or rodent behavior, as well as weather conditions, as warmer temperatures are favorable for the disease. flea activity, Previously reported Live Science.
The most common type of plague in the United States is known as bubonic plague, which can cause fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen and painful lymph nodes (called buboes), according to the CDC. This type of plague, which is not contagious, is usually caused by a flea bite.
Measures to prevent plague infections include: avoiding contact with wild rodents (including sick, injured or dead rodents); keep animals away from rodent burrows; keep animals on a leash outside; and wear long pants and bug spray to reduce flea exposure, the statement said.
Originally posted on Live Science.
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