California health authorities have confirmed that a South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for plague, the first human infection reported in El Dorado County since 2020. County officials said the individual was likely bitten by an infected flea while camping in the Lake Tahoe area and is now recovering at home under medical supervision. Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is rare in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recording an average of about seven human cases annually, mostly in western states. The illness can be fatal if untreated but responds well to common antibiotics when diagnosed early, and officials described the risk of person-to-person transmission as low. The California Department of Public Health routinely traps and tests wildlife for plague. From 2021 through 2024, 41 rodents in El Dorado County showed exposure to the bacterium, and four additional positive rodents have been identified in the Tahoe Basin so far this year. Officials urged residents and visitors to avoid contact with wild rodents, use insect repellent, and keep pets on flea control to reduce exposure while hiking or camping.