Los Angeles County health officials have confirmed the county’s first human cases of West Nile virus this year, saying six cases have been identified since late July.
No specifics about the patients were released, but according to the county Department of Public Health, the victims live in the Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley. Most of the patients were hospitalized in late July and early August, and all are recovering, according to the county.
“Mosquitoes thrive in hot weather and residents should follow simple steps to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus,” county Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement.
“Simple measures can reduce mosquitoes and mosquito bites, like protecting yourself and your family with insect repellent and removing standing water outside your home. West Nile virus can lead to hospitalization or death, and, by taking preventative steps now, residents can better protect themselves against infection and the serious neuro-invasive disease caused by this virus,” Davis said.
According to the state, a total of 18 human cases of West Nile virus had been confirmed in California as of Aug. 19.
The West Nile virus season typically runs from summer through fall, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People catch it from a bite from an infected mosquito, which contracts the virus when it feeds on an infected bird. Most people infected with the virus do not feel sick, but about 1 in 5 who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms, according to the CDC. About 1 in 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness, CDC data show.
Because there is no human vaccine or cure for West Nile virus, health officials recommend that people use mosquito repellent. The CDC recommends products with the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus as being safe and effective against mosquitoes that can transmit diseases when used according to the labels.
Other steps residents should take include:
— eliminating standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week;
— ensuring that swimming pools, spas and ponds are properly maintained;
— changing the water in pet dishes, bird baths and other small containers weekly;
— requesting mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds; and
— reporting neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district.
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