The U.S Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, under the direction from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will have Fallen Leaf Campground closed Monday, June 27 and will reopen Friday morning July 1st due to a public safety precaution. The closure will allow the county and state public health and vector control officials to conduct pesticide treatments to help minimize potential future plague risk. There is minimal risk to the public at this time.
Officials will be dusting all rodent burrows with a pesticide to reduce the number of fleas that can carry the plague. The pesticide to be used, DeltaDust, is a pyrethroid that has minimal effects to people or pets with direct contact.
El Dorado County health officials were notified by CDPH of an increased risk of plague in the campground area, test results confirmed on June 20th that four out of the 12 rodents tested positive for exposure to plague. CDPH recommended the closure; the treatment will help decrease the potential transmission of plague to humans.
Plague is naturally present in many parts of California and is spread by squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents and their fleas. People can get plague if bitten by an infected flea or through close contact with an infected rodent or pet. Symptoms of plague usually who up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea, and include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.
Tips to prevent exposure to plague include the following:
•Do not feed squirrels, chipmunks or other wild rodents.Â
•Never touch sick, injured or dead rodents.
•Do not camp, sleep or rest near animal burrows or areas where dead rodents are observed.
•Look for and heed posted warning signs.
•Wear long pants tucked into boot tops and spray insect repellent containing DEET on socks and pant cuffs to reduce exposure to fleas.
•Leave pets home if possible, otherwise keep pets on a leash. Do not allow pets to approach sick or dead rodents or explore rodent burrows. Protect pets with flea control products.
•Cats are highly susceptible to plague and can pose a direct threat to humans. Keep cats away from rodents. Consult a veterinarian if your cat becomes sick after being in contact with rodents.
•If you get sick after being in an area where plague is known to occur, consult a physician and tell them you may have been exposed to plague.
To report a sick or dead rodent or for questions about plague, please contact El Dorado County Environmental Management at 530-573-3450, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For questions about camping in the Lake Tahoe area, contact the Forest Service at 530-543-2600, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. For questions about plague surveillance activities, contact CDPH Office of Public Affairs at 916-440-7259. For more information about plague, visit the CDPH website at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/HEALTHINFO/DISCOND/Pages/Plague.aspx
