Madera County health officials have debunked viral rumors that a young girl contracted bubonic plague from a flea bite at Bass Lake.
The panic began with now-deleted social media posts claiming a child had been infected with the Black Death, Yersinia pestis, after a nasty bite at the Sierra National Forest recreation area.
“Madera County Department of Public Health has not identified any confirmed cases,” the department told YourCentralValley.com on Tuesday.
The county is continuing to monitor the situation despite the absence of any plague cases.
Health officials emphasized that no bubonic plague infections have been detected in the area.
The rumors had threatened to cast a shadow over Bass Lake’s upcoming 125th “Birthday Glow Paddle” celebration.
Event organizers have been inviting fans to “toast this lake we love” and watch for falling stars at the Aug. 15 bash.
The celebration kicks off at Miller’s Dock at 8 p.m.
Swimmers and paddlers will light up the night with glow sticks.
Renowned for its warm summer waters and stunning alpine backdrop, Bass Lake functions as a major recreational hub just outside the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park.
In the viral moment, social media posts about the alleged plague case spread rapidly online before being deleted. The claims centered on a young girl supposedly contracting the ancient disease from a flea bite at the popular Madera County lake. County health officials moved Tuesday to quash the rumors, confirming no cases had been identified. The false alarm briefly threatened to disrupt plans for the lake’s milestone anniversary celebration.
The “Birthday Glow Paddle” event remains scheduled for Miller’s Dock on Aug. 15.