According to the El Dorado County Public Health, plague is naturally present in some areas of California.
People hiking and doing other outdoor activities should avoid contact with animals. They should do the same for their pets.
Plague is an infectious bacterial disease that tends to be spread by chipmunks, other wild rodents and their fleas. For humans, symptoms can show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal. They include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.
If caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics.
