Health officials confirmed a South Lake Tahoe resident tested positive for the plague, likely contracted from a flea bite while camping. Though infamous for the Black Death, today the disease is rare in the U.S.—with only about seven cases per year—and highly treatable with antibiotics. The patient is recovering at home, and officials stress there’s no wider risk. They urge campers to avoid contact with rodents, use flea prevention for pets, and take precautions outdoors, reminding the public that while plague still exists in wildlife, it’s rare, manageable, and not a major threat.
