San Gabriel Valley

PLAGUED AREA: The Forest Service has closed two sites in the Angeles National Forest because it believes some small animals may be infected with sylvatic plague.

The Forest Service on Thursday shut down Camp Follows, north of Azusa on the east fork of California 39, because some animals had shown signs of the disease.

Rangers said earlier that Switzer’s Picnic Area, about 10 miles northeast of La Canada Flintridge on Angeles Crest Highway, will be closed until Sept. 1 while the service identifies the source of the plague and attempts to exterminate the fleas that carry and spread it to small animals.

Sylvatic plague occurs in animals, not humans, and is common among the San Gabriel Mountains’ ground squirrels. Humans contract it through the bites of infected fleas, and develop the form of the disease known as bubonic plague.

Plague is a highly contagious disease marked by fever, chills, head and muscle aches, weakness and often swollen and tender lymph nodes. The disease can be fatal if not treated.

There have been no reports of human health problems as a result of the current situation, but rangers warned against handling any dead or live forest animals.