California resident diagnosed with plague for first time since 2015

PanARMENIAN.Net - A South Lake Tahoe resident has been diagnosed with the plague, marking the first human case in California since 2015, CNN reports.

Health officials believe the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while walking their dog in the area, according to a press release from the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency.

The infected person is recovering at home under the care of a medical professional, the release said.

Symptoms of plague often appear within two weeks of exposure and can include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes, according to the release. Treatment with antibiotics can be effective if the infectious disease is detected early enough.

The last confirmed case of plague in California was in 2015, when two people were exposed to infected rodents or their fleas in Yosemite National Park. Both people were treated and recovered.