Fallen Leaf to close for plague treatment

After tests earlier this week confirmed that four more rodents tested positive for bubonic plague, Fallen Leaf Lake Campground will be closed while officials spray for fleas.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, under direction from the California Department of Public Health, will temporarily close Fallen Leaf Campground to allow county and state public health and vector control officials to conduct pesticide treatments to minimize potential future plague risk, weather permitting.

There’s minimal risk to the public at this time.

The gate to Fallen Leaf Campground will close 7 p.m. Monday, however campers must check out by noon. The gate will likely reopen July 1. Officials will dust all rodent burrows with a pesticide to reduce the number of fleas that can carry plague. The pesticide to be used, DeltaDust, is a pyrethroid that has minimal effects to people or pets with direct contact. Pyrethroids are a man-made version of pyrethrins, which are natural insecticides made from chrysanthemum flowers.

El Dorado County health officials have been notified by the state of an increased risk of plague in the Fallen Leaf Campground area. Test results confirmed on Monday, revealed four out of 15 rodents tested positive for exposure to plague. That warning recommends the temporary closure of the campground to provide pesticide treatment. The treatment will help decrease the potential transmission of plague to humans. Health officials are not aware of any human contact with infected rodents or fleas at the campground.

A flea sample from a yellow-pine chipmunk collected from the southwest end of the campground tested positive for plague earlier this month. El Dorado County officials issued a news release, and the forest service posted signs warning visitors that plague was detected, explaining the precautions to follow and encouraging campers to report any sick or dead rodents.

Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County and is spread by squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents and their fleas. People may get plague if bitten by an infected flea or through close contact with an infected rodent or pet. Plague can be prevented by avoiding contact with wild rodents, and by keeping pets away from rodent burrows. Risk of acquiring plague is very low when precautions are taken.

Symptoms of plague usually show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea, and include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. Plague can be effectively treated with antibiotics if detected early.