Plague
Plague is a highly infectious disease caused by bacteria carried by rodents such as ground squirrels, chipmunks, wood rats, and mice. A few ways plague can be transmitted to humans or pet include:
- Bites from infected fleas
- Hungry fleas will leave a sick or dead rodent to find new blood meals from humans
-
Direct contact with sick or dead animals
- Plague bacteria in the blood, urine, or saliva of an infected animal can enter cuts and abrasions on humans
-
Pet involvement
- Infected rodents fleas can be brought into a home or campsite by a dog or cat
- Plague pneumonia can be transmitted by a sick cat that is coughing and sneezing
The Vector Control Program routinely collects and tests fleas and blood samples from squirrels in our local mountains and campgrounds. If tests come back positive for plague, park rangers are notified, squirrel burrows may be treated for fleas, and warning signs are posted to inform the public on how to avoid fleas and protect themselves and their pets from this serious disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms include chills, fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, and most commonly swollen and tender lymph nodes (called buboes). This stage is called the bubonic plague. Plague symptoms usually appear 2 to 6 days after infection. Plague is treatable when found early.
An animal with plague will become very ill, may stop eating and will have a fever. Swollen lymph glands may occur, generally in the neck area.
Inform your veterinarian if a pet becomes sick following a visit to a plague area.
Prevention
- Avoid known plague areas.
- Use flea control products on pets.
- Avoid contact with wild animals and their fleas, especially sick or dead rodents.
- Use caution when handling a sick pet that has been in a plague area.
- Avoid face-to-face contact with sick pets or sick humans.
- Report sick or dead animals to park rangers or the Vector Control Program.
- Contact a physician immediately if you become ill within 7 days of being in a plague area.
Control
- State and local vector control programs monitor plague activity. Rangers and park employees are trained to watch for sick or dead rodents.
- The Vector Control Program routinely collects and tests fleas and blood samples from squirrels in our local mountains and campgrounds.
- Warnings will be posted by park rangers or health officials in areas where plague is found. Use caution when entering these areas.
- Flea powder put into rodent burrows may be used to control fleas carrying plague. The powder gets in the rodents' fur after they enter, killing fleas inside the burrow. This is very effective and does not harm rodents.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Information about
Fleas
CDC Information on
Plague
California Department of
Public Health Information on Plague
Plague Positives
2023 Plague Positive Rodents
No plague positives have been detected to date in 2023
2022 Plague Positive Rodents
No plague positives were detected in 2022
2021 Plague Positve Rodents
No plague positives were detected in 2021
2020 Plague Positve Rodents
No plague positives were detected in 2020
2019 Plague Positive Rodents
No plague positives were detected in 2019
2018 Plague Positive Rodents
| Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
| 10/10/2018 | Tecate | Border Area | Big-eared woodrat |
2017 Plague Positive Rodents
| Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
| 09/27/2017 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 08/24/2017 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
2016 Plague Positive Rodents
No plague positives were detected in 2016
2015 Plague Positive Rodents
Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
| 06/24/2015* | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
*Denotes the re-capture of a previously tested positive squirrel.
2014 Plague Positive Rodents
| Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
| 09/14/2014 | Palomar | Doane Valley Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 09/14/2014* | Palomar | Doane Valley Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014 | Palomar | Camp Palomar | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014 | Palomar | Camp Palomar | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014* | Palomar | Camp Palomar | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014* | Palomar | Camp Palomar | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014* | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014 | Palomar | Fry Creek Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014 | Palomar | Doane Valley Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 07/15/2014 | Palomar | Doane Valley Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
| 06/30/2014 | Palomar | Camp Palomar | California Ground Squirrel |
| 06/30/2014 | Palomar | Camp Palomar | California Ground Squirrel |
*Denotes the re-capture of a previously tested positive squirrel.
2013 Plague Positive Rodents | |||
Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
09/17/2013* | Palomar |
Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
09/17/2013 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
09/17/2013 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
06/13/2013 | Palomar | Fry Creek | California Ground Squirrel |
06/12/2013 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
06/12/2013 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
06/12/2013 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
05/09/2013 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
*Denotes the re-capture of a previously tested positive squirrel.
2012 Plague Positive Rodents | |||
Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
07/26/2012 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
07/25/2012 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
07/25/2012 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
04/12/2012 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
2011 Plague Activity - none to report
2010 Plague Positive Rodents | |||
Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
05/06/2010 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
2009 Plague Positive Rodents | |||
Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
06/11/2009 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
06/11/2009 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
04/02/2009 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
2008 Plague Positive Rodents | |||
Date | Community Area | Location | Species |
10/22/2008 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
10/22/2008 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
09/24/2008 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
08/04/2008 | Palomar | Cedar Grove Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
07/18/2008 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
07/15/2008 | Palomar | Doane School Camp / Palomar Mtn. | California Ground Squirrel |
06/26/2008 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
06/05/2008 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
06/05/2008 | Palomar | Doane Campground | California Ground Squirrel |
Plague Activity Map (2008 through 2011)
(858) 694-2888
Flea by Andrei
Savitsky
Plague symptoms by Mikael Häggström
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