Another American tested positive for plague after a camping trip in California, the latest in a string of positive cases in the western United States, reports The Independent.
Health officials in El Dorado County say the man might have been bitten by an infected flea while in the South Lake Tahoe area. He is currently under the care of a doctor and recovering at home, they said.
Several cases of the plague, both in humans and animals, have been reported across the country so far this year. Earlier this month, a cat in Colorado tested positive for the plague and died. Last month, an Arizona man died from the disease.
He was taken to a medical centre with severe symptoms, but died the same day. His autopsy later revealed the bacterium for plague.
The plague is incredibly rare in America, with the Centres for Disease Control reporting an average of only seven human cases annually. Most occur in rural areas of the western part of the country.
Caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, it spreads from flea bites or direct contact with infected animals, and although it can be life-threatening without immediate treatment, it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough.
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