Salt Lake City, UT (AHN)-A campground at Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah has been closed because of bubonic plague detected among field mice and chipmunks.

National Park Service officials say there never has been a reported human case of bubonic plague originating from the parks or national monuments, but Joe Winkelmaier of the U.S. Public Health Service, says, "We come down on the conservative side when it comes to closing campgrounds," adding that, "We just like to be sure when it comes to plague."

According to the AP report, several weeks ago, park rangers noticed a large number of dead field mice at Natural Bridges, with preliminary tests indicating they died from the plague.

Rangers now plan to use insecticides to kill fleas in the campground area, since humans usually contract bubonic plague after being bitten by fleas that have bitten infected rodents. The campground could be reopened as soon as next week.