A squirrel captured in Southern California has tested positive for exposure to fleas infected with the bacteria that can cause plague.
The plague-exposed squirrel was picked up in September at a campground in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County, Calif., CNN reports. More tests are scheduled, as plague is endemic to the region.
"It's not something that people should panic about, but we do want them to be educated so they can protect their families and their pets," Dottie Merki, environmental health program chief at the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, told CNN.
Merki says a blood test revealed the California squirrel was exposed to bubonic plague, although the rodent showed no symptoms of the bacterial disease, according to 89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio. "I think people just have to be reminded it is in the area an use precautions and it’s something to be aware of but not afraid of," she said.
The most recent cases of plague in humans in California were recorded in April 2006 in Los Angeles County and June 2006 in Inyo County, Southern California Public Radio reports. The last U.S. urban plague epidemic occurred in Los Angeles from 1924 to 1925, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Colorado 7-year-old Sierra Jane Downing contracted the bubonic plague in August during a camping trip. Her mother, Darcy, said Sierra might have been infected by insects near a dead squirrel, which the girl wanted to bury at their campground, the Associated Press reports. Sierra has since recovered.
Plague is a severe and potentially fatal bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis that is carried by rodents, such as rats or squirrels, and spread by their fleas, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Humans can get the plague when they are bitten by an infected flea or animal.
The most common forms of plague infections are bubonic (of the lymph nodes), pneumonic (of the lungs) and septicemic (of the blood), according to the NCBI. Symptoms differ depending on the form, however people may experience chills, fever, coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pains, swollen lymph glands and/or difficulty breathing.
The "Black Death," caused by the bubonic plague, killed an estimated 25 million people in Europe during the 14th century. Today, the infection is quite rare.
Officials offer the following precautions to prevent plague exposure, via KTLA:
- Avoid contact with ground squirrels, tree squirrels and other wild animals.
Do not feed or touch wild animals, or touch dead animals. Do not rest or camp near animal burrows. Protect your pets by leaving them at home, or by keeping them on a leash and using flea-control methods. Contact your doctor immediately if you become ill after visiting a known plague area.Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.