Over the weekend it was confirmed by authorities that a California child was diagnosed with the plague after camping at Yosemite National Park.
According to officials, via The Guardian, the child became ill and was hospitalized after camping at Yosemite's Crane Flat campground last month. More details about the child have not been released but per Dr Karen Smith, State Health Officer, the child is recovering. In addition, officials have announced that no one else from the child's camping party have displayed any related symptoms.
A statement was released by the National Park Service as well as the California Department of Public Health Facebook Page,which reads:
"California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today announced the department is investigating a case of human plague in California, and conducting an environmental evaluation in the Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and the surrounding areas.
The department began investigating this incident after a child from Los Angeles County became ill and was hospitalized after visiting the Stanislaus National Forest and camping at Crane Flat Campground in Yosemite National Park in mid-July. No other members of the camping party reported symptoms and health officials are continuing to monitor the child's family and treatment providers. The child is recovering."
Precautions To Take When Camping
As part of its public awareness and prevention campaign, signages have been plastered all over Crane Flat as well as other campgrounds to warn campers against the flea-transmitted disease.
Some precautions listed over the National Parks Service include the following:
- Never feed squirrels, chipmunks or other rodents and never touch sick or dead rodents
- Avoid walking, hiking or camping near rodent burrows
- Wear long pants tucked into socks or boot tops to reduce exposure to fleas
- Spray insect repellent containing DEET on socks and pant cuffs to reduce exposure to fleas
- Keep wild rodents out of homes, trailers, and outbuildings and away from pets.
For those who have recently come from the area and are sick, some of the early symptoms of the plague include high fever, chills, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin.
Immediate medical attention should be sought especially those who have been out in the wilderness and have been exposed or in contact with rodents and fleas. The public is advised not to panic as the plague is treatable during its early stages with the right diagnosis, proper medical attention and antibiotic treatment.
For those planning to head to Yosemite's Crane Flat Campground, the area has been temporarily closed from noon of August 10 until noon on August 14 for treatment of rodent burrows. This action has been taken as an official precautionary public health measure.
