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Riverside County squirrel tests positive for exposure to Bubonic plague
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) – A ground squirrel collected in the wild near Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains was found with fleas carrying bacteria that can cause Bubonic plague, the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health announced Tuesday.
The squirrel was collected during routine sampling and testing.
Riverside County officials said it was the first test of an animal in the county that showed signs of the plague in nearly a decade.
The ground squirrel was found at the Fern Basin campground north of Idyllwild on September 6 during routine testing.
Unneutral
October 10th, 2012
Any animal that carries such an ugly bacteria must be a liberal.
Corona
October 10th, 2012
So another was found around 10 years ago? Why didn’t we hear of it back then?
mkultra
October 10th, 2012
Great news. When the epidemic comes, we’ll all be surprised to find out we’re out of Levofloxacin because it was used to treat Obama voters’ STDs.
Andrew Parker
October 10th, 2012
Best way to avoid Bubonic Plague (Yersinia pestis) is to not approach or touch sick or dead animals, including scavengers and predators. That also saves you from a number of other not so nice things that are endemic to the western US. If you have dogs or cats, try to make sure they don’t wander outside, or at least make sure they have fresh flea collars.
If the plague mutates to the pneumonic form, which is rare, hope that your local political and health leaders are not PC pansies, or things could get medieval very fast. When it comes to preventing the spread of an outbreak or epidemic, time is your best ally when you have it and your worst enemy when you don’t. An effective quarantine gives you time.
moarkdave
October 10th, 2012
<—— My little buddy is glad that we live nowhere near California. He loves chasing squirrels (and rabbits). He hasn't caught one yet, but boy does he try.
I think the squirrel was in one of the OWS camps last year and had to move out to that campground this year.
Keyser Söze
October 10th, 2012
This is predictable for people who play in and with their fecal material.
Tim
October 10th, 2012
Yep, the squirrel prolly caught it from a Democrat.