- A California resident contracted the plague after a Lake Tahoe camping trip, marking the latest in a string of cases across the western U.S.
- Health officials report confirmed cases in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, with nine fatalities since 1957.
- Plague is transmitted by fleas from wild rodents, with bubonic and pneumonic forms posing serious health risks.
- Public health agencies urge precautions during outdoor activities and stress the importance of prompt treatment with antibiotics.
- Surveillance programs monitor rodent populations, but erratic reporting complicates tracking and prevention.
Article by Willow Tohi, republished with permission from Naturalnews.com
Health officials in California confirmed a rare case of bubonic plague in a South Lake Tahoe camper, fueling concerns about sporadic outbreaks across the American West. The 21-year-old victim, who recovered after treatment, was likely infected via a flea bite during an outdoor activity. “It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors,” said Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County’s acting director of public health.
The incident follows similar cases in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. In Colorado alone, 45 people have contracted the plague since 1957, with nine deaths, including a recent pneumonic plague fatality in Williamsburg. Pneumonic plague, the deadliest strain, is transmitted via respiratory droplets and requires urgent care.
A historical threat resurfaces amid environmental shifts
Plague bacteria (Yersinia pestis) have been endemic in North America for centuries, but human cases remain rare due to modern medicine. “Plague is naturally present in many parts of California,” Fliflet said, noting 41 plague-exposed rodents were identified in El Dorado County from 2021–2024, with four more in 2025’s Tahoe Basin alone.
Elevated rodent surveillance has uncovered flare-ups in national parks like Yosemite, where two cases were reported in 2015. Last month, Arizona health officials confirmed a pneumonic plague death — the first since 2007.
How plague spreads and how to stay safe
The disease typically spreads through flea bites contracted during camping or hiking near rodent habitats. However, plague can also emerge in urban and suburban areas where rodents thrive in close proximity to human dwellings. The bacterium responsible is transmitted when infected fleas — often from rats, prairie dogs, or other small mammals — feed on humans or animals. After ingesting blood, fleas regurgitate the bacteria during subsequent bites, a process more likely in cooler temperatures that prolong flea survival and amplify infestations.
Rodent habitats pose a significant risk. Infestations flourish in cluttered spaces such as tool sheds, brush piles, basements, garages and attics. Homeowners are urged to eliminate these hazards by clearing debris, sealing entry points in buildings and storing food in rodent-proof containers. Routine inspections of outdoor storage areas and removal of trash are critical to disruption of rodent nesting.
Pets, particularly cats, are highly susceptible to plague and can carry infected fleas indoors. Dogs exhibit greater resistance but may still transmit fleas if exposed. Owners should use veterinary-approved flea prevention products, avoid letting pets roam in rodent-heavy zones (like dense brush or abandoned burrows) and check animals for fleas and symptoms such as lethargy, high fever or swollen lymph nodes. Sick pets require immediate veterinary care, as untreated cases endanger both animals and their owners.
Human symptoms begin abruptly with fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes near the bite site. If left untreated, the disease can escalate to severe forms like septicemic plague (leading to organ failure) or pneumonic plague (a deadly form spread via airborne droplets from coughing). Prompt antibiotic treatment is critical to prevent complications.
The bigger picture: Why this matters now
Health agencies, while advocating measures like insect repellent (containing DEET) and protective clothing during outdoor activities, must be approached with skepticism given their potential ties to corrupt agendas. Independent vigilance — such as avoiding dead animals, never touching fleas or rodents without gloves and manually reducing rodent-friendly environments — is paramount. The CDC’s guidelines, while widely promoted, should be cross-referenced with community knowledge and herb-based preparations like echinacea or neem for natural flea deterrence.
As temperatures rise, flea populations may wane, but cooler regions or seasonal changes can still harbor risks. Staying informed through decentralized networks, like local prepper groups, and stockpiling herbal first-aid solutions (e.g., garlic, oregano oil) provide alternatives to trusting faltering institutions.
While plague deaths are rare, their occurrence hints at broader ecological and public health challenges. Moreover, delayed reporting and inconsistent protocols hinder containment efforts.
A call for vigilance in an uncertain landscape
Dr. Charles Brown, an epidemiologist at the CDC, emphasized the urgency of education: “Raising awareness in high-risk areas is critical to preventing severe outcomes.”
As warmer weather drives outdoor recreation, health experts urge campers and hikers to proceed with caution. With cases resurfacing in iconic landscapes like Lake Tahoe and the Rocky Mountains, the reminders are stark: centuries-old threats persist, demanding modern vigilance.
“Our surveillance systems work, but vigilance is key,” Fliflet said. “Plague won’t be eradicated, but it can be managed — if people know how to spot it.”
Sources for this article include:
RELATED REPORT:
Emergency Room Visits For Tick Bites Skyrocket – How To Stay Safe
Summer means vacation and the beach and long hot sunny days. This year, unfortunately, summer also means a trip to the Emergency Room for a record number of Americans and the reason why may be surprising – ticks.
Thanks to a wet and warm spring, the tick population in the United States has sky-rocketed, not surprisingly, more ticks mean more tick bites and more trips to the ER:
Emergency room visits for tick bites this year are at the highest levels since 2019, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The rise is especially prevalent in the Northeast, where June figures show 229 tick bites per every 100,000 visits to ERs — up from 167 per 100,000 visits in June 2024.
Tick bites are more than just an irritating nuisance. Tick bites can lead to a number of dangerous conditions:
Tick bites can land someone in the hospital due to a number of tick-borne illnesses. Lyme disease, for example, can cause severe symptoms in people who were bitten by ticks carrying the borrelia bacteria. Different types of infected ticks can spread other bacteria, viruses and parasites that make people sick. For example, black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, can also spread babesiosis, anaplasmosis and Powassan virus disease.
HOW TO STAY SAFE
First and foremost, you want to avoid a tick bite:
Health experts say people should be aware of the diseases ticks can carry, and follow prevention strategies to help protect themselves.
“Most people don’t realize that ticks transmit more viruses and diseases than any other animal in the world, so this rapid increase in population is a serious concern for public health,” Bente said.
He calls the bugs “sneaky opportunists,” nothing they “hang out in bushes or on top of grasses and wait for pets or people to walk by.”
Experts recommend protecting yourself against ticks by wearing long-sleeved clothing and using insect repellant while outside and doing a tick check and taking a shower once back home.
Bente calls tick checks the “most critical prevention measure,” and suggests using mirrors to look in any warm areas where ticks might lurk, such as the groin, armpits, scalp, behind the ears and knees and waistband.
WHAT IF I GET BIT?
Let’s be honest, ticks are hard to avoid. They are small and most people have no idea a tick is on them until it’s too late.
The good news is that there is an antibiotic available that can easily help prevent the development of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. According to the National Institutes for Health (NIH):
For adults, a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg) has been recommended for prophylaxis after tick attachment for prevention of Lyme disease.,,,– For children eight years of age and older, a single dose of doxycycline (4 mg/kg up to the adult dosage)
DON’T GO TO THE ER: HAVE LIFE-SAVING MEDS ON HAND!
No one wants to go to the Emergency Room. Wait times, especially during the summer, are incredibly long and if you aren’t sick when you get to the ER, you may end up leaving sick after spending countless hours sitting around people who are sick and contagious!
Having access at home to life-saving medications is a God-given right for every American – including, and most importantly for tick bites, DOXYCYCLINE!
In 2023, The Wellness Company, under leadership from courageous esteemed doctors like Peter McCullough, released their Medical Emergency Kit – a first-of-its-kind kit containing 8 critical medications including doxycycline, amoxicillin, generic Z-pak, and IVERMECTIN – discretely prescribed by a doctor at The Wellness Company and shipped to your door.
Over 160,000 medical emergencies avoided – and counting.
Don’t rely on a broken system. Buy a Medical Emergency Kit today and stop worrying about the future because you will be prepared for whatever health crisis. As of July 2025, over 160,000 Americans have purchased Medical Emergency Kits from The Wellness Company, many who already avoided a life-threatening incident.
The Wellness Company Medical Emergency Kit includes:
-
Amoxicillin-Clavulanate (generic Augmentin) 875/125 mg – 28 tablets
-
Azithromycin (generic Z-Pak) 250 mg – 12 tablets
-
Doxycycline Hyclate 100 mg – 60 capsules
-
Metronidazole (generic Flagyl) 500 mg – 30 tablets
-
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (generic Bactrim) 800/160 mg – 28 tablets
-
Ivermectin 12mg – 25 compounded capsules
-
Fluconazole (generic Diflucan) 150 mg – 2 tablets
-
Ondansetron (generic Zofran) 4mg – 6 tablets
-
1 Emergency Medication Guidebook written by the Chief Medical Board for safe use.
These Medical Emergency Kits are a godsend, treating over 30 different conditions – from tick bites all the way to bioterror and the plague.
What people are saying about the Medical Emergency Kit:
Excellent Kit! This medical emergency kit is great. Having it “just in case” gives me peace of mind. Highly recommend. Thank you! – Melinda C.
Glad that I purchased your Medical Emergency Kit! Though I haven’t yet needed to use any of the medications that are in our kit, I am happy that I ordered it! One never knows when “an emergency might occur”, and I feel safer having your M.E.Kit at my disposal IF needed! We’re so glad we ordered ours! Thank you for making it available! – Susan M.
Peace of mind. It is an amazing peace of mind to have this kit in case of emergencies and shortages. The Wellness Company did an excellent job of getting this to me in a timely manner and I and thankful to have it. – Phyllis T.
Hope I will never need it! Thank you for caring! Nice to have doctors who look out for us. Times are unpredictable nowadays, feels good to have something in the medicine cabinet in case of an emergency. – Cat S.
Great medical emergency kit. Kit came as advertised! Neat and orderly. The guide is great. Only plan on using it in an emergency during a difficult time. Confident it is what I was counting on. – Fred D.
Don’t be caught unprepared – no matter where you are! Don’t regret not acting today.
Order The Wellness Company’s Medical Emergency Kits today – have it on hand before it’s too late.
(Note: The information provided is intended for generalized informational purposes only and should not be considered personal medical advice or used as a substitute for professional healthcare guidance. It is your responsibility to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines regarding the purchase, possession, and use of prescription medications. Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message in this article and ordering through the links provided, which benefits WLTReport. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to keep you SAFE and HEALTY!)