U.S. California reports first human case of plague since 2015

Citizens walk dogs in Foster City, California, the United States, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

A public health official said that human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- California has reported that a resident living in El Dorado County tested positive for plague, marking the first human case of the fatal disease since 2015.

According to a statement released Monday by the county's Health and Human Services Agency, the patient, who is currently under the care of a medical professional and is recovering at home, may have been bitten by an infected flea while walking a dog recently.

El Dorado County Public Health Officer Nancy Williams was quoted by the statement as saying that plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County, and human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious.

In the area where the patient was infected, the statement said, there are signs posted to advise the public of the presence of plague, reminding individuals to take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and/or camping.

Plague is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis. Plague bacteria are most often transmitted by the bites of fleas that have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents. Dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into the home.

The last reported cases of plague in California were two human cases which were exposed to infected rodents or their fleas in Yosemite National Park in 2015. Both people were treated and recovered. These were the first reported human cases in the state since 2006. ■