Ground squirrel tests positive for plague: Chance of human exposure slight but precautions should be taken

A blood sample collected from one ground squirrel at the Doan Valley Campground on Palomar Mountain has tested positive for the plague.

“Plague has been identified at neighboring campgrounds in years past,” said Gary Erbeck, director of the Department of Environmental Health. “We know that we occasionally have plague in the higher elevations of San Diego County. The County Vector Control program conducts routine testing of ground squirrels to detect the presence of plague. When found, the public is notified about where it is and how to avoid it.”

Plague is a bacterial disease contracted by wild rodents. It can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. Currently, there have been no locally acquired human cases of plague reported in San Diego County. Flea populations are monitored and control measures are taken as necessary at this campground, and others, to reduce the potential for human exposure.

Warning signs are posted in all areas where plague has been confirmed. Visitors, hikers and campers in rural mountain areas should look for these signs and always follow precautions to prevent contact with the fleas:

• Avoid contact with ground squirrels, chipmunks and other wild animals.

• Do not feed, touch or handle wild animals.

• Do not rest, camp or sleep near animal burrows in the ground.

• Protect pets by keeping them on leashes, using flea control or, best of all, leaving them at home.

• Contact your doctor immediately if you become ill within one week of visiting a known plague area. Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, chills and tender, swollen lymph nodes.

• Do not touch sick or dead animals; report them to Vector Control.

For more information about plague surveillance, call County Vector Control at (858) 694-2888 or visit http://www.SDVector.com.