A plague-infected squirrel has resulted in the closing of a California campground for a minimum of a week, according to the Los Angeles County health officials and reported by ABC News.
The squirrel became trapped in the Table Mountain Campgrounds of Angeles National Forest on July 16. It then tested positive for the infection on Tuesday, causing a health advisory and the closing of the campground while investigators tested other squirrels and dusted the area for plague-infected fleas to ensure no other animals had been infected.
"Plague is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas, which is why we close affected campgrounds and recreational areas as a precaution while preventive measures are taken to control the flea populations," Dr. Jonathan Fielding, a Los Angeles County health officer said in a statement.
Plague is the result of the Yersinia pestis, a microscopic bug that is blamed for wiping out 60 percent of the European population during the "Black Plague" era between 1348 and 1420. It's rare today, with an average of seven cases found in humans every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disease is curable with antibiotics, but can still cause serious illness or death when left untreated.
"It is important for the public to know that there have only been four cases of human plague in Los Angeles County residents since 1984, none of which were fatal," Fielding said.
Being bitten by a flea infected with the plague can result in symptoms including fever, chills and enlarged lymph nodes, known as buboes, near the bite, according to the CDC.
"The earlier a patient seeks medical care and receives treatment that is appropriate for plague, the better their chances are of a full recovery," the agency writes on its web site.
Health officials are urging Angeles National Forest campers to avoid contact with wild animals, as well as to stay away from squirrel burrows and report any dead squirrels to the department of health.
Campers are also advised to wear insect repellant containing DEET to ward off fleas and avoid taking pets into flea-infested areas, according to the health advisory.
News coverage of the squirrel in the campground.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
