A Los Angeles child who contracted human plague may have gotten the rare disease while camping in Yosemite National Park.
Authorities announced Thursday the child likely contracted the bacterial disease while camping in Yosemite National Park in mid-July.
It’s the first recorded incident of human plague in California in nearly a decade.
CBS Los Angeles reports areas visited by the child included Stanislaus National Forest and the Crane Flat Campground, where the child camped.
Plague is often carried by squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents and can be spread via fleas after the animal dies. The child became sick and was hospitalized shortly after returning from the trip.
Family members and other people that camped with the child are being monitored, but are not showing symptoms of the disease, according to Department of Public Health Spokeswoman Anita Gore. She confirmed the child is currently recovering.
Even though others are showing no symptoms, officials have decided an environmental evaluation of the Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National park and their surrounding areas are in order.
The good news in this case is that there has not been a recorded case of human-to-human passing of the disease since 1924 in California.