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California campground closed due to the plague!
The Los Alamos Campground, located in the Angeles National Forest, has been closed after a ground squirrel found there tested positive for the plague. Let me say that again, it tested positive for the plague! The park was officially shut down on Saturday and will remain closed for at least ten days. During that time, officials will dust the squirrel burrows in the area for fleas in an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease. The plague spreads when infected rodents are bitten by fleas, who then go on to bite humans, passing along a bacteria that can bring on a severe fever, the chills, and a blood infection. In rare occasions, it can also lead to the pneumonic plague and possibly even death.
One form of the plague is the bubonic variety that spread across Europe in the 14th century, killing in excess of 25 million people. But health officials have been quick to point out that there have been four cases of plague in Los Angeles County since 1984, and none of those were fatal. But just to be sure, they recommend visitors to the Angeles National Forest avoid squirrels and chipmunks while visiting the park, and wear insect repellent, preferably with DEET, to keep the fleas away.
When we consider the dangers of heading out into the wilderness to go camping, we usually think of bears or possibly exposure to weather conditions. I don't think I've even once worried about the plague. Crazy!
[Photo credit: Benefactor123 via WikiCommons]
Filed under: Hiking, North America, United States, Camping, Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jonathan Jul 7th 2010 2:43PM
OK, so who tests dead ground squirrel's... Is this a normal practice... Is it covered under the new heath plan or are they testing because it close to Los Alamost blew up....
Tess Jul 7th 2010 3:53PM
Wow! That's scary! I love to camp all summer. Http://www.hikingandcampingsecrets.com
tracer Jul 7th 2010 4:59PM
A lot of wildlife areas have plaque and also anthrax among just a few diseases that can be a problem if left unchecked. And from the sound of things you must not get out of your parents basement to often. So you pretty much should not worry about it. Just be more concerned with dust mites and mold.
monitorjak Jul 7th 2010 5:33PM
the squirrel wasn't dead
kentuckyman Jul 7th 2010 3:09PM
first they brought whooping cough now the plauge what will the invaders bring next
Craig Jul 7th 2010 4:59PM
The only thing "They've Brought" is strong backs and desperate hearts seeking better lives for their families: and MASSIVE profits for the agribusiness conglomerates like Conagra. Just like with drugs crossing the border, if you remove the profit motive, aka slave-wage jobs that Americans can't support themselves doing, the problem goes away. Make hiring illegal aliens a prosecutable felony and decriminalize drugs. Marijuana is the most profitable cash crop in the Western hemisphere and could easily be legalized and taxed the same as alcohol. The beer and liquor lobbys are the only thing standing between sensible legalization and taxation of pot and the American people. Do you feel justified now?
tracer Jul 7th 2010 5:06PM
Lets hope they bring you a box of chocolates and a gift wrapped brain that is fully functional. That would be priceless.
Stephanie Jul 7th 2010 6:33PM
I assume you're talking about squirrels. If you are talking about people, you are uninformed, at best.
Chris Jul 7th 2010 6:40PM
Ummm, Cooties?
Wes Jul 9th 2010 1:13PM
Smallpox... or didn't you watch the x-files.
rhiebie Jul 10th 2010 4:27AM
Sheesh.... Too bad they can't inject it into prejudiced morons like you and wipe you all off the face of the earth and leave the rest of us in peace!!!!!
keysa Jul 10th 2010 4:39AM
Sheesh.... Too bad they can't inject it into prejudiced morons like you and wipe you all off the face of the earth and leave the rest of us in peace!!!!!
keysa Jul 10th 2010 4:44AM
Sheesh.... Too bad they can't inject it into prejudiced morons like you and wipe you all off the face of the earth and leave the rest of us in peace!!!!!
Andie Jul 7th 2010 3:26PM
The plague has always circulated the Los Angeles National Forest. This isn't news. They test the squirrels every year and every year they find one with the plague and close down the forest to dust the animals. It's been under control in that area for years, nothing to worry about people.
thankyou Jul 7th 2010 3:56PM
Thank you Andie as that is true. No it is not due to a nationality, race or creed as all enjoy and use these Mountains. It is due to normal practice. Tea party is really getting desperate people.
Pat Jul 7th 2010 3:50PM
You are right! There are about 25 reported cases each year in the United States and I'm sure many more that go unreported. Not really news, unless you planned to camp there.
Stephanie Jul 7th 2010 6:33PM
Plague is endemic among the little tree rats in the American Southwest. This is a story only because a park got closed down. Screaming 'Plague!" is no help to anyone and certainly not news.
In addition, Plague is easily treatable in humans. What kind of journalism is this? Do your research before you write about things like this.
Susan Jul 7th 2010 9:34PM
This is not an uncommon occurrence in the American southwest. And by the way, the disease is bubonic, not pneumonic, plague! This article is a tempest in a teapot.
ashnaile Jul 8th 2010 8:44PM
Are you serious?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonic_plague
There's more than one kind of plague, what led you to blindly spout off misinformation with such authority? You most likely aren't nearly as intelligent as you lead yourself to believe. Henceforth please fact check your drivel.
Herbert W. Trendell Jul 7th 2010 3:35PM
My apologies Creationists, up front!!!! But maybe our collective bodies have "Naturally Selected" to be much less susceptible to plague. I mean 25,000,000; that sounds like a pretty good "culling of the herd". Everybody alive today really ought to be thankful for "survival of the fittest". Isn't that right, Mike Huckabee?