In some not-great epidemiological news, bacteria that cause plague — sometimes called bubonic plague — have been discovered in fleas found on a chipmunk in South Lake Tahoe, prompting The California Department of Public Health to post some warning signs in the vicinity of the discovery.

As the Associated Press reports, the plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis is naturally present in various parts of California, typically in fleas found on wild rodents. And "plague can spread to people through flea or animal bites, causing fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes." Unlike the pandemics that killed thousands in Europe across the centuries, though, plague can now be treated with antibiotics if detected early enough.

The offending flea was found near Fallen Leaf Campground in South Lake Tahoe, which is where the warning signs went up.

As you'll learn from Wikipedia, though "bubonic plague" and "plague" are often thought to be synonymous, the former is just one of several manifestations of the disease caused by the bacterium, and is the one transmitted through fleas via small animals. The other two are septicemic plague, and pneumonic plague.

Symptoms, as KCRA adds, typically show up within two weeks. And it remains a serious health risk because even with antibiotic treatment, death can still occur in about 10 percent of cases.

El Dorado County Environmental Management asks that the public report any sightings of sick or dead rodents at 530-573-3450.