Another state has registered a human plague case, this time it was in a higher altitude location of California’s El Dorado County. The person most likely acquired the infection from a flea bite while dog-walking in the vicinity of South Lake Tahoe. According to the local health dept, it has been five years since the last human case was reported in the state (Yosemite National Park). A public health official warned people to ensure they employ precautions for both themselves and their pets ‘while walking, hiking and/or camping in areas where wild rodents [i.e. squirrels, chipmunks] are present’. Read more and more info in the California Health Dept. plague factsheet. Also on the subject of plague, a ProMED post provides an update on the outbreak in the DRC’s Ituri province, outlining a widening of case locations and signs plague is circulating, evidenced by large numbers of rat deaths in the area.
Advice for travellers
Plague poses a low risk to most travellers. The majority of plague cases are due to bubonic plague following the bite of an infected flea carried by rats. If left untreated, infection of the lungs causes the pneumonic form of plague, a severe respiratory illness, which can progress rapidly to death. Read more on the plague.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.