Child gets plague after a trip to Yosemite Park

A child contracted the plague while visiting the Stanislaus National Forest and the Crane Flat Campground in Yosemite National Park in mid-July, state public health officials said.

As part of the investigation, officials are conducting an environmental evaluation in the Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and the surrounding areas. They said the child is recovering and no other members of the camping party have reported symptoms.

Experts say the disease is not transmitted between humans, except in rare cases, and it can be fatal if left untreated.

Plague is an infectious disease caused by bacteria carried by wild rodents, including chipmunks and squirrels, and their fleas.

“Although this is a rare disease, people should protect themselves from infection by avoiding any contact with wild rodents”, she said.

– Never feed squirrels, chipmunks or other rodents, and never touch sick or dead rodents. “Protect your pets from fleas and keep them away from wild animals”, said Dr. Karen Smith, the director of the California Department of Health, in a statement.

Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea and swollen lymph nodes.

Park officials are also working with the state department of public health to trap and test rodents and fleas to try to find the source of the child’s infection.

Visitors at Yosemite National Park are being extra-cautious after a child caught the plague during a camping trip there last month. Anyone with these symptoms is advised to seek immediate medical attention, especially if they have been camping our out in wilderness areas, and if they have been exposed to rodents and fleas.

A plague pandemic devastated Europe during the Middle Ages, but is treatable today in the early stages.

In California, plague-infected animals are most likely to be found in the foothills and mountains and to a lesser extent, along the coast.

In 2014, non-human plague activity was detected in animals in San Diego County, Santa Barbara County, and five other counties statewide.

Danielle Buttke, a National Public Health Service officer, said: “We are investigating areas where the patient may have visited just to gauge whether or not there’s additional plague risks in those areas”.

Los Angeles County saw its first plague case in 1908, and in 1924 it was the site of the nation’s last known outbreak of plague passed from human to human – 31 of 32 people who contracted the disease died.