CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Plague has been found in the squirrel population at a popular camping site on Palomar Mountain in northern San Diego County, health officials said Wednesday.
Though plague is not uncommon among the squirrels there, this year’s discovery is earlier than most years. Vector control officials take yearly blood samples from squirrels at the Doane Valley Campground and other spots on the mountain.
Plague is a bacterial disease in wild rodents that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. Visitors to Palomar Mountain are advised to avoid squirrels and chipmunks and stay clear of animal burrows, which can be hot spots for fleas.
Plague warning signs are posted. For more information, go to www.sdvector.com.
-- Tony Perry
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