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El Dorado County Resident Tests Positive for Plague
El Dorado County health officials, in coordination with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), have confirmed that a South Lake Tahoe resident recently tested positive for plague. The individual is recovering at home under medical supervision. Health officials believe the infection may have come from a flea bite while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area.
Why Farmers and Feedlots Should Be Concerned
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas like El Dorado County. While rodents are the original hosts, birds can carry fleas infected with plague bacteria onto farms and feedlots. Flocks moving through feed storage areas, barns, or pens may transport these fleas, creating a serious risk for livestock, pets, and workers.
Kyle Fliflet, Acting Director of Public Health for El Dorado County, stated:
“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California… It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking or camping in areas where wild rodents are present.”
For agriculture managers, this means controlling bird activity is critical to reducing the risk of plague exposure on your property.
How Plague Spreads Through Birds
Plague bacteria are transmitted by fleas that have fed on infected rodents. Birds can pick up these fleas and carry them to farms or feedlots, where they may jump to livestock, pets, or even humans. This makes birds a direct vector for plague in agricultural environments.
Symptoms in humans after exposure to infected fleas include:
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Fever and chills
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Weakness and fatigue
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Nausea
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Swollen lymph nodes
Early detection is crucial. Plague can be effectively treated with antibiotics if caught promptly.
Recent Activity in the Tahoe Basin
CDPH surveillance in El Dorado County has detected plague activity in local wildlife:
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From 2021–2024, 41 rodents tested positive for plague exposure.
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In 2025 alone, four more rodents (all in the Tahoe Basin) have tested positive.
This ongoing presence increases the likelihood that birds moving through farms or feedlots may carry infected fleas.
Protecting Your Farm: Avitrol Bird Control
To safeguard your livestock, feed, and workers from plague-carrying birds:
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Use Avitrol Bird Control Products: Avitrol is a proven and discreet solution to keep birds away from agricultural sites, preventing them from bringing plague-infected fleas onto your property.
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Monitor Bird Activity: Watch for flocks near feed storage, barns, and pens, and take immediate action to deter them.
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Act Fast on Symptoms: Any worker exhibiting fever, swollen lymph nodes, or other signs of plague after potential exposure should seek medical care immediately.
Bottom Line
Plague is a real threat to farms and feedlots-not just from rodents, but from birds carrying infected fleas. Proactively using Avitrol to control bird activity, combined with vigilance for signs of exposure, is the best way to protect your property, livestock, and people.
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