Human Plague Confirmed Near National Park
A case of the human plague has been confirmed in Arizona near a celebrated National Park.
The case was reported in Navajo County. This area (Holbrook, specifically) acts as the basecamp for many tourists exploring Petrified Forest National Park.
The official statement from Navajo County Public Health Services says, “(we’re) urging the public to take precautions to reduce their risk of exposure to this serious disease.”
Fleas or infected animals are the primary carriers of this bacterium.
How Can National Park Visitors Stay Safe?
Navajo County Public Health Services offers a few tips for staying safe.
- Do not handle dead animals.
- Prevent pets from roaming loose.
Fleas carrying the disease can potentially attach to your dog or cat.
Please keep them in your RV during your visit – with minimal, supervised trips outside to use the bathroom.
Campgrounds Near the Area of Concern
There are only a handful of campgrounds in the area. If you’re visiting Petrified Forest National Park, you’re probably camping at one of the nearby parks.
Here’s your go-to resource. Stay up to date with developments on the Navajo County Government Facebook page.
If You Need to Reroute
In the case of rerouting, you have many options. Winslow, Arizona, made iconic from the Eagles hit “Take It Easy,” is just west of the area of concern.
Slightly further west is Flagstaff, Arizona – a great town for camping!
To the east, you can check out the famous stretch of Route 66 in Albuquerque. We camped directly on the old road at Enchanted Trails RV Resort.
Here’s our complete list of the Best Free Camping in Arizona.
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The Navajo County website lists the particular disease as:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yersinia_pestis
From the Wiki entry: ” Every year, thousands of cases of the plague are still reported to the World Health Organization”
That’s a 1932 Studebaker marking the old Rt. 66. Model Ts were an older more basic car.