Health officials from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are now investigating the health status of a child who reportedly contracted human plague while visiting Yosemite National Park.
According to a report from NBC Bay Area, health officials are now performing an environmental assessment at the park, Stanislaus National Forest, and other nearby areas to find out if the rare illness has already spread or if there are other people who might have picked up the plague.
The last case of human plague reported in California was back in 2006 and it was successfully treated with antibiotics.
However the new case from Yosemite National Park poses a great concern since it was reported a couple of days after health authorities from Colorado confirmed the death of their second plague victim.
The plague cases in Colorado were believed to have come from fleas, rodents, or dead animals.
The CDPH immediately took action as soon as the unnamed girl from Yosemite National Park became sick after visiting Stanislaus and staying overnight at Yosemite in the middle of July.
According to state health officer Dr. Karen Smith, the plague is a rare disease but still people should be cautious enough to protect themselves from the deadly illness by avoiding contact with wild animals, especially rodents.
Smith's take-home message was simple — do not feed chipmunks, squirrels, or other rodents when in picnic areas. More importantly, never touch the sick or dead animals.
Smith also advised that pets should be protected from fleas and should also be kept away from wild animals.
According to reports, CDPH officials are now looking into the child's travel histories and activities at the time of the incubation period.
It was also mentioned that the child is now recovering in an unnamed hospital and other people from the same camping party have not reported any similar symptoms.
The CDPH is currently working closely with officials from Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, U.S. Forest Service, and Yosemite National Park.
