The California Department of Public Health announced it would investigate the case of a child from Los Angeles County聽who contracted the plague after visiting Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, published on Thursday. Officials from Yosemite, the Forest Service, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are conducting an environmental evaluation of the area to determine the cause聽of the disease.
The plague, which typically affects rodents聽such as prairie dogs and squirrels, can sometimes be passed to humans by carrier fleas or household pets that have come into contact with a sick or dead rodent, .
In California, the most recent聽cases of the plague were reported in 2005 and 2006. There have been a total of 42 cases in California since 1970. Public Health Director and State Health Officer Karen Smith told the Los Angeles Times that the plague could be fatal if left untreated.
鈥淎lthough this is a rare disease, people should protect themselves from infection by avoiding any contact with wild rodents,鈥 Smith said in the release. 鈥淣ever feed squirrels, chipmunks, or other rodents in picnic or campground areas, and never touch sick or dead rodents. Protect your pets from fleas and keep them away from wild animals.鈥
At Yosemite, park employees will offer visitors advice on reducing their risk of contact. Those reporting fever, chills, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, or other symptoms are urged to seek medical care聽right away and to take notes of where they were camping.