California squirrel tests positive for plague exposure - CNN.com

Answer 1

In California, a ground squirrel found at a campground north of Idyllwild tested positive for exposure to fleas carrying the bacteria that causes plague.

Riverside county performs routine testing for plague due to the bacteria being common in the area.

County officials say visitors or residents should not be afraid to camp in the area but should take the following precautions:

- Avoid contact with wild animals, dead or alive.
- Avoid resting near animal burrows.
- Protect pets from fleas with flea-control methods or by leaving them at home.

Plague can be transmitted to humans if they are bitten by an infected flea or handle an infected animal. Plague can cause serious illness or death unless treated promptly with antibiotics.