Plague Discovered at Lake Tahoe Campground

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA -- A flea found on a chipmunk trapped at a South Lake Tahoe campground has tested positive for the plague, El Dorado County health officials said.

The flea was taken from one of three rodents trapped in the Fallen Leaf Campground in South Lake Tahoe in May.

Officials say test results confirmed the presence of plague. According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the discovery was made during routine surveillance of the area.

Plague is an infectious bacterial disease that typically spreads from flea bites to rodents. Humans can then contact the plague by contact with an infected rodent or the fleas themselves.

Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea and swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes, according to the CDC. It can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough.

In July of 2015, a campground at Yosemite National Park was closed after a child contracted the plague while visiting.

Warning signs have been posted at the Fallen Leaf Campground, and visitors are advised to avoid contact with all rodents. Officials will conduct additional testing in the same area later this month.

Photo of Lake Tahoe courtesy Michael Collins