Fourth Ground Squirrel Tests

Positive for Plague

...

Blood samples collected from another ground squirrel at the Doane Valley Campground on Palomar Mountain have tested positive for plague, County Vector Control officials announced.

“This is the fourth squirrel that has tested positive for plague in this park this year. Campers should avoid contact with squirrels and their fleas,” said Gary Erbeck, Director of the Department of Environmental Health.

“You should not put your tents near squirrel burrows, do not feed the squirrels and warn your children not to play with the squirrels.”

Plague is a bacterial disease of wild rodents that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. To date, 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.

Plague 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 these 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 a leash, use flea control, or best of all, leave pets 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; please report them to Vector Control.

For more information about plague surveillance, call the Vector Control Program at (858) 694-2888 or visit www.SDVector.com.

Salud+HealthInfo is for information and educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned abut your health or that of a child, please consult your family's physician or health provider immediately and do not try to diagnose yourself. Salud+Health Info is published and distributed free of charge by Info Option Network (ION) Publishing Company. Copyright © 2001-2006 Info Option Network

About Us | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us