In Southern California a dead ground squirrel tested positive for the deadly plague bacteria. Health officials say it is the first plague bacteria discovered in Riverside County, California for over a decade.
The ground squirrel was tested in conjunction with routine testing from Fern Basin campground in the San Jacinto Mountains, north of Idyllwild. Health officials collected the squirrel carcass on September 6 and confirmed the plague results on Tuesday. The plague infected squirrel showed low levels of the bacteria.
