A child was recently diagnosed with the plague after a visit in Yosemite National Park in California.
As reported by Reuters, the child was with his family camping in the park about a month ago when he might have contracted the disease. The health authorities of Los Angeles County, led by Dr. Karen Smith, the state's health officer, retraced the steps of the patient, who spent time in the Stanislaus National Forest before they set up camp in Crane Flat.
The patient, who is the first to have contracted the disease in LA County since almost 10 years ago, is recovering, the health authorities assure the public. Other than this information, none have been shared, including the name and age of the patient.
In the meantime, the Yosemite National Park has taken some proactive measures including informing disseminating a plague caution for visitors. According to the bulletin, the plague may be obtained through animals such as rodents, ground squirrels, and chipmunks. These animals can harbor the fleas, which may then carry the virus.
The health authorities also encourage the visitors to stay away from locations where there are burrows built by rodents. It may also help if an insect repellent is applied to the legs to minimize bite from fleas or the person wears pants tucked inside boots.
A person may acquire the virus if he or she is exposed to these fleas or when he or she touches an animal infected with them. A cat can also be a potential carrier, especially when a person is around when it sneezes or coughs.
On Friday, August 7, a man from Colorado succumbed to the complications of the plague, the second person to die in the state. The first one was a teenager. Both, experts believe, had died from septicemic plague, which develops when the bacteria invade the bloodstream. It's not that easy to detect, however, since the early symptoms can mimic those of the flu.
