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| Plague-infected squirrel shuts Los Angeles park | Plague-infected squirrel shuts Los Angeles park |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Parts of a national forest in California have been evacuated and closed down after a squirrel was found to be infected with the plague. | |
| Los Angeles officials say visitors were ordered to leave the Angeles National Forest as a precaution after the rodent was trapped in a routine check. | Los Angeles officials say visitors were ordered to leave the Angeles National Forest as a precaution after the rodent was trapped in a routine check. |
| They said no people in the area were believed to have been infected with the disease, known as the Black Death. | They said no people in the area were believed to have been infected with the disease, known as the Black Death. |
| The plague killed as many as 25 million Europeans during the Middle Ages. | The plague killed as many as 25 million Europeans during the Middle Ages. |
| It is a bacterial infection which can be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. | It is a bacterial infection which can be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. |
| If not treated with antibiotics, it is usually deadly. | If not treated with antibiotics, it is usually deadly. |
| There have been only four cases of human plague in Los Angeles County since 1984, none of which were fatal, according to officials. | There have been only four cases of human plague in Los Angeles County since 1984, none of which were fatal, according to officials. |
| Further testing of squirrels in the region will be carried out before the campgrounds are re-opened to the public. | Further testing of squirrels in the region will be carried out before the campgrounds are re-opened to the public. |
| Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, told the BBC that agriculture workers would dust squirrel burrows in order to reduce the flea population. | |
| He said that while the area was closed to camping, people would still be able to hike through. | He said that while the area was closed to camping, people would still be able to hike through. |
| He advised that anyone who wished to do so should use insect repellent and ensure that any pets they bring have a flea collar. | He advised that anyone who wished to do so should use insect repellent and ensure that any pets they bring have a flea collar. |