Yosemite Visitor Gets The Plague

A camper in Yosemite National Park has contracted the plague and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is involved.

The young child who contracted the plague is currently recovering and no one else in the area at the time has any symptoms.

The last known case o the plague in California was in  2006 and there have been 42 cases since 1970, of which resulted in death.

“Human cases of plague are rare, with the last reported human infection in California occurring in 2006,” said Dr. Karen Smith, the Director and State Health Officer of the CDPH.

“Although this is a rare disease, people should protect themselves from infection by avoiding any contact with wild rodents. Never feed squirrels, chipmunks, or other rodents in picnic or campground areas, and never touch sick or dead rodents. Protect your pets from fleas and keep them away from wild animals.”

The plague is not transmitted from human-to-human contact, unless an infected person has a lung infection and is coughing. The last recorded case of the plague being transmitted in this way in California was in 1924.

“California health officials are working with the CDC, Yosemite National Park and the U.S. Forest Service to find the source of the infection,” said Smith.

There have been two cases of death in Colorado that resulted from the plague this year, see here for more.