Plague Danger Cited

A campground in the Angeles National Forest has been closed to allow health officials to control an outbreak of an animal disease that shows up as bubonic plague in humans, authorities said Wednesday. A ground squirrel found in the Table Mountain Campground about four miles west of Wrightwood has tested positive for sylvatic, or animal, plague, Los Angeles County health officials said. The disease is a bacterial infection affecting wild animals--especially ground squirrels--and can be transmitted to humans by means of a flea bite. In humans, plague symptoms include enlargement of lymph glands near the bite, followed by fever and chills. It can be fatal if left untreated.