U.S. Detects Case of Bubonic Plague in California

Bubonic plague detected in California

Authorities call for caution

WHO warns of high mortality

According to EFE, U.S. health authorities confirmed a case of bubonic plague in a California resident, reviving concern over a historically deadly disease.

The patient, who lives in the southern Lake Tahoe area, in El Dorado County, is believed to have contracted the infection after camping in a wooded area.

According to the Sacramento Department of Public Health, it is suspected that the infection was caused by the bite of an infected flea.

The case has prompted an alert urging visitors to rural areas to take extreme precautions when coming into contact with wildlife.

Authorities call for preventive measures

Bubonic plague case detected in California resident, USA #NoticiasSIN
Read more in our newspaper https://t.co/Ovpz0o2vQa https://t.co/WpN3ulb71j pic.twitter.com/CYJ6Sid7H2

— Noticias SIN (@SIN24Horas) August 20, 2025

Authorities explained that the parasites that transmit bubonic plague live in wild animals that can be found on trails and in camping areas.

Kyle Fliflet, interim director of public health for El Dorado, warned that “plague is naturally present in many parts of California.”

The official emphasized the importance of taking preventive measures outdoors, especially in regions where rodents live.

Recommendations include avoiding contact with dead animals, using insect repellent, and keeping pets under control to reduce the risk of exposure.

A recent bubonic plague case in Arizona

U.S. Detects Case of Bubonic Plague in California – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The new infection in California adds to a case reported in northern Arizona on July 11, when a person died from the disease.

That episode was reported as the only recent fatal case in U.S. territory.

Although cases are unusual, specialists stress that bubonic plague has not disappeared and remains present endemically in various parts of the world.

The discovery of a new infection in California reinforces authorities’ warnings about the need for health surveillance.

A disease with high mortality risk

Bubonic plague in California PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the fatality rate of bubonic plague ranges between 30% and 60%, depending on the medical care available and the conditions of the country where the infection occurs.

In the Middle Ages, the disease was known as the “Black Death” and caused the death of millions of people in Europe.

Although effective antibiotic treatments are now available, speed of diagnosis is key to preventing fatal outcomes.

Doctors remind the public that the most common symptoms include fever, chills, severe headache, and swollen lymph nodes.

Countries with highest incidence of bubonic plague

The WHO notes that bubonic plague remains endemic in some countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Currently, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru are the territories with the highest number of reported cases.

In these regions, the disease represents a public health problem due to factors such as poverty, coexistence with rodents, and limited medical response capacity.

International monitoring seeks to prevent plague from turning into large-scale outbreaks like those recorded in the past.

Concern in California

The case detected in El Dorado County has generated concern among residents, although authorities insist that the general risk of contagion is low.

Plague is mainly transmitted through infected fleas that parasitize wild rodents, so direct exposure is limited.

However, the mere fact that the disease is still present in natural areas of the United States drives the continuation of public health education campaigns.

Experts warn that climate change and the expansion of human settlements into rural areas increase the risk of interaction with carrier animals.

Health surveillance and control

Health authorities in California have stepped up epidemiological surveillance in the Lake Tahoe region.

Tests are being conducted on wild animals to detect the presence of the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which causes bubonic plague.

Prevention messages have also been reinforced in rural communities and among tourists visiting parks and camping areas.

The priority is to prevent new infections from putting the population at risk and to guarantee rapid diagnoses in case of clinical suspicion.

Bubonic plague: A controlled but persistent disease

Although bubonic plague no longer represents a large-scale threat as it did in past centuries, it is still present worldwide.

The case in California is a reminder that the danger has not disappeared and that prevention remains the most effective tool against its spread.

Authorities urge the public to remain calm and trust health systems, which today have treatments capable of saving lives if the disease is detected in time.

The infected patient remains under medical care while health teams investigate the precise origin of the infection.

Confirmation of the case reinforces the idea that, even in developed countries, bubonic plague remains a health reality that should not be ignored.