September 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Campers and hikers are being urged to take simple steps to protect themselves after three ground squirrels trapped in routine monitoring near Palomar Mountain tested positive for plague.

“People can protect themselves from being exposed to plague,” said San Diego County Environmental Health Director Jack Miller. “Just remember: Don’t feed or play with squirrels, report dead squirrels to camp rangers, and do not set up your tents near squirrel burrows.”

Campers, hikers warned to take precautions

September 13, 2012 (Palomar)--Two ground squirrels trapped during routine monitoring at the Cedar Grove Campground on Palomar Mountain have tested positive for plague, County Vector Control officials announced Thursday.

Officials said the squirrels represented a low risk of transmission because their blood tests showed that their exposure was not recent, but that they were conducting flea-control measures and posting plague-warning signs at Cedar Grove and nearby Doane campground as a precaution.