IDYLLWILD – (INT) – Plague is making its occasional summertime appearance in the San Jacinto Mountains.

Riverside County health officials say that plague has been detected in ground squirrels at the Dark Canyon and Marion Mountain Campgrounds. The last positive plague samples in the San Jacinto Mountain Range were in 2012 and 2002.

No humans have been infected. Plague is spread by the bite of infected rodent fleas.

Risk to the public is considered to be low and campgrounds will remain open during follow-up investigations.

Campers should take the following precautions:

Do not set up tents on or near rodent burrows
Do not feed or pick up any wild animals
Do not touch or handle any dead animals
Keep pets on a leash while camping and ensure they have been treated against fleas
Report any sick or dead rodents to campground staff
Report to a family physician any illness after camping in mountain areas

Story Date: July 4, 2016