West Nile Virus Found Across Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES, CA —Authorities confirmed the presence of the West Nile Virus in ten samples of mosquitoes collected from across Los Angeles County Friday.

The findings serve as a reminder to take measures to reduce mosquito breeding grounds around your home, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. The West Nile virus, which is now endemic in Southern California, was found in samples collected from Downey, downtown Los Angeles, Mission Hills, Norwalk, Woodland Hills and Valley Glen. Overall, there have 19 positive samples within the region so far.

Earlier this month, Los Angeles County recorded its first human case of West Nile Virus of the season in the South Bay. A patient was hospitalized with the virus in July but was expected to recover.

See Also: LA County Confirms First Human Case Of West Nile Virus This Year

Warm temperatures can increase virus activity and mosquito populations. There is no cure for the virus, which is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. About one in five people who become infected will exhibit symptoms, which can last from several days to months and include fever, headache, body aches, nausea or a skin rash, and one in 150 will require hospitalization. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis and possibly death.

So far this year, 15 WNV human cases have been reported in California.

GLACVCD encourage residents to take an active role in reducing the WNV threat in their neighborhoods by:

• 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 the local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds;
• wearing EPA-approved and CDC-recommended insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present;
• reporting neglected (green) swimming pools to the vector control district; and
• sharing this information with others to decrease mosquito populations.

More recommended solutions and a list of resources can be found at tiptosstakeaction.org. Residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656, online at glacvcd.org, or on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City News Contributed to this report.