By EMILY SKEHAN
The Department of Public Health is reporting the first confirmed human West Nile Virus (WNV) case in the county for the 2007 season. The patient is a middle-aged man living in western San Fernando Valley. He reported fever, headache and fatigue in mid- July, was briefly hospitalized with West Nile meningitis, and is now in recovery at home.
As of August 3, WNV has been detected in nine dead birds and 14 mosquito pools by Public Health and the mosquito abatement districts. Most of the infected birds and positive mosquitoes were found in the San Fernando Valley area.
WNV is spread from humans from the bite of an infected mosquito; mosquitoes can become infected by biting a bird that carries the virus. Most mosquitoes do not carry the virus and most people bitten by a mosquito have not been exposed to the virus. The virus is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds to humans.
In most cases, people who are infected never become sick or have only very mild symptoms that include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, and a mild skin rash. Symptoms of West Nile Virus could appear within three to 12 days, after infection.
People can decrease their risk of infection by avoiding mosquito-infested areas at dawn and dusk, using repellents like DEET and wearing long sleeves, and not allowing water to stagnate in flowerpots, swimming pools, birdbaths, pet bowls, etc. The county public health department has established a toll-free information line (800 975-4448) that will provide callers with updated information on West Nile Virus within the county.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 15, 2007. Read the original PDF.