Local News in Brief : Campers Urged to Take Plague Precautions

Campers in the Angeles National Forest should avoid wild animals, wear insect repellent and leave their pets at home to avoid the spread of bubonic plague, a Los Angeles County health official said Tuesday.

The warning was issued after county officials discovered two recent cases of animal-borne plague in the forest, bringing this year’s total for the county to seven.

The disease, which can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics, can be transmitted to people through the bite of an infected flea, said Barbara Gondo, an environmental health officer with the county Department of Health Services. Wild animals such as ground squirrels could be carrying infected fleas, she said.

Insect repellent is recommended so the infected fleas don’t bite humans, and pets should be kept at home to avoid attracting the fleas and endangering pet owners, Gondo said.

The two latest cases of animal-borne plague were discovered last week in a pet dog at Shortcut Ranger Station, about 12 miles north of La Canada Flintridge, and in a squirrel at Buckhorn Campground, about 25 miles north of La Canada Flintridge. The Buckhorn Campground has been closed since Friday. Another nearby camping area in the national forest, Charlton Flats, was closed July 28 because of the discovery of the plague but is expected to reopen this week, Gondo said.