As the US enters its peak period for West Nile virus infections, Americans are being urged to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. The warning comes as deaths from the virus climb nationwide, with public health authorities in Los Angeles County reporting the area’s first fatality linked to West Nile virus of the year.
The victim, who lived in the San Fernando Valley, was hospitalized for a neurological condition resulting from a severe case of West Nile virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 222 cases have been recorded across 32 states so far this year, with at least eight deaths reported nationwide as of August 18.
The virus, which is most commonly contracted through a mosquito bite, causes more than 130 deaths in the contiguous US every year. Residents are advised to use insect repellent, especially during peak mosquito hours around dawn and dusk, get rid of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, and ensure windows and doors have tight-fitting screens without holes or tears.
California is experiencing its highest level of overall West Nile virus activity in five years, with 30 human infections, including three fatal cases, identified across 13 counties through August 14. According to the California Department of Public Health, symptoms of the virus usually start 2-6 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can include fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
Severe illness can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. Health experts warn that individuals over age 50 and those with preexisting health conditions face a significantly higher risk of serious illness, and that critical complications can include encephalitis, paralysis, and meningitis.
Surveillance programs tracking sentinel chickens, horses, dead birds, and mosquito populations have detected evidence of the virus across 32 California counties, with over 24 percent of collected dead birds carrying the virus. Vector control agencies operating in Los Angeles County have similarly recorded elevated levels of infected bird specimens and positive mosquito samples.
