Person tests positive in US for ‘black death’ plague that kil.led tens of millions
A California resident has tested positive for plague, commonly known as the “Black Death,” just weeks after a fatal case was reported in Arizona. The individual, from South Lake Tahoe, is currently recovering at home under medical care.
Health officials believe the person was bitten by an infected flea while camping in the area. An investigation is now underway, and residents have been advised to remain cautious. No further details about the patient’s condition have been released.
Plague is now rare in the United States, with the CDC reporting an average of just seven human cases each year. The last known case in South Lake Tahoe occurred in 2020.
The disease is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, the same pathogen responsible for the historic Black Death that killed millions in medieval Europe. It exists in several forms, with bubonic plague being the most common.
Symptoms of bubonic plague typically appear within two to eight days and include fever, chills, headache, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. While treatable with antibiotics, pneumonic plague—a more severe form that affects the lungs—can be fatal if not addressed promptly.
Health officials warn the public to avoid contact with wild rodents, such as squirrels and chipmunks, whether alive or dead, as they may carry infected fleas. Pets can also bring these fleas into homes.
This case follows the July death of an Arizona resident from pneumonic plague—the first such fatality in the state since 2007. That individual was reportedly exposed through contact with an infected animal.
