Plague-Infected Squirrel Found Near Campgrounds in Angeles National Forest
Despite its deadly history, plague infection is serious but rarely fatal in modern times
A squirrel infected with plague bacteria prompted the closure of popular campgrounds in the Angeles National Forest on Wednesday, according to Los Angeles County health officials.
Officials with the county and the U.S. Forest Service closed the Broken Blade, Twisted Arrow and Pima Loops areas of the Table Mountain Campgrounds near Wrightwood, a small mountain town northeast of Los Angeles. A single ground squirrel trapped July 16 was found Tuesday to have tested positive.
The plague disease spreads to humans through bites from infected fleas. And though the infection had once been called the "Black Death" because it killed millions before the advent of antibiotics, infections today in the U.S. are rare and usually not fatal.
"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," said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, the county's director of public health.
More SoCal News on NBC4's FREE mobile:Details here
It is not rare, however, to find plague in the ground squirrels of the San Gabriel Mountains, according to health officials.
A squirrel trapped in 2010 near the Los Alamos campgrounds in Gorman carried the disease, as did one in 2007 and two in 1996 from the Stoneyvale Picnic Area near La Canada/Flintridge. Another plague-carrying squirrel was found in 1995 near a campground in Vogel Flats.
Officials urged campers, hikers and picnickers in the area to avoid wild animals and particularly ground squirrels, and to make sure all people and pets are protected from fleas.
Anyone who sees dead ground squirrels in recreational areas were urged to call the county Department of Public Health at 626-430-5450.
Health officials recommend that visitors to the Angeles National Forest use strong insect repellents containing DEET, which can protect against fleas, mosquitoes and ticks. Products with DEET are not safe for use on pets.
Gregory Koestering · Waikoloa, Hawaii
We need a good plague to get rid of about 4 billion people on the planet. Then we can start reviving this great ball we live on in space. There are way too many people and resources are dwindling like no one understands.
- Ken Waltz · El Toro High SchoolOverpopulation is a myth. All you have to do is get rid of the 260 million greedy resource abusers to cure the problems of over use and abuse. The 5% of the p-eople that use 75% of the resources. Capitalism and the American way of life is unsustainable, that is true, but most of the population on this planet doesn't live that way. In fact the bottom 3 billion live on less than $2 per day. If you divide the planets acreage between the inhabitants there would be two hundred acres each. You could put all the 8 billion people on this planet in an eighth of an acre track home with 4.2 people per home in the space the size of Texas. The greedy on this planet want you to believe there is a population problem but it's a lie.
- Tom Wehe · Lake Highlands High SchoolKen Waltz interesting fact, but who gets their 200 acres in the deserts and on the poles, or in the high mountains? still I suppose 20 is really more than anyone needs, unless you want to graze animals, it would be nice to know how much space/resources a family of four would require. The automated farms in America make a lot of food. I think over population is baloney, but there is some good done by us greedy Americans. Where did you get 260 million, is that supposed to be every American? seems a little harsh.
- Shawna Bintz · Top Commenter · Corona del Mar, CaliforniaWow, wouldn't it be ironic if all you people that are wishing that people would die so you could have more stuff, were the first to go. Most gray ground squirrels carry the plague bacteria, just like most koalas carry chlamydia. The fleas bite the squirrels and then jump on you dog, where you bring them home and voila, you've got the plague in your house. Learn something people. Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment