California campground closed due to the plague

A ground squirrel found to be carrying "the plague" has prompted the closure of the Los Alamos Campground in the Angeles National Forest.

The park was officially shut down on Saturday and will remain closed for at least ten days while officials dust area squirrel burrows for fleas in an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease.

The plague spreads when infected rodents are bitten by fleas, who then go on to bite humans, passing along a bacteria that can bring on a severe fever, the chills, and a blood infection. In rare occasions, it can also lead to the pneumonic plague and possibly even death.

One form of "the plague"--which sounds like the name of a B-movie--is the bubonic variety that spread across Europe in the 14th century, killing in excess of 25 million people.

But health officials have been quick to point out that there have been only four cases of plague in Los Angeles County since 1984, and none of those were fatal. But just to be sure, they recommend visitors to the Angeles National Forest avoid having squirrels and chipmunks to dinner while visiting the park, and wear insect repellent, preferably with DEET, to keep fleas away.

So now, in addition to bears, mountain lions, moose, skunks, and fire ants, we can add squirrels, chipmunks, and fleas to the dangers of heading out into the wilderness to go camping.