WEST NILE: San Bernardino County's First Human Death of 2012 Reported

An elderly person has died after contracting West Nile Virus near Redlands and Loma Linda, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health announced Tuesday.

The victim was the first human death from West Nile Virus in the county in 2012, health officials said.

Asked for the age, gender and city of residence for the victim, county health officials stated the victim was a man older than 70 from the West Valley area.

He died sometime last, health department spokeswoman Winfred Kimani said. She declined to say what date the man died.

As of Tuesday Oct. 23, a total of 19 symptomatic human West Nile cases had been confirmed San Bernardino County in 2012, health officials said.

"We are greatly saddened by this death that has occurred in San Bernardino County," San Bernardino County Health Officer Maxwell Ohikhuare said in prepared remarks. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family.

"We continue to see an increase of WNV activity throughout the County and therefore, we strongly encourage that the public take appropriate precautionary measures to protect themselves against mosquito bites," Ohikhuare said. "People over 50 years old should be especially cautious, as they are more likely to develop serious illness if they contract the virus."

A total of 15 West Nile deaths had been reported as of Oct. 23 in California, in Fresno (2), Glenn (1), Kern (2), Los Angeles (4), Merced (1), Placer (1), Sacramento (2), San Bernardino (1), and Sutter (1) counties, according to state health officials.

Across the U.S. this year, more than 4,500 human cases of West Nile Virus, including 183 fatalities, had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Oct. 16.

West Nile Virus can be transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that has fed on an infected bird, county health officials said.

"Signs and symptoms of WNV may include fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and headache," county health officials said. "Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms; however, some people may develop severe symptoms which can lead to brain inflammation or paralysis."

San Bernardino County health officials have offered the following tips to residents to protect themselves and their families from West Nile Virus:

• Drain or Dump: Remove all standing water around your property where mosquitos lay eggs such as birdbaths, green swimming pools, ponds, old tires, buckets, clogged gutters, or even puddles from leaky sprinklers.

• Dawn and Dusk:  Avoid spending time outside when mosquitos are most active.

• Dress: Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeved shirts that are loose fitting and light colored.

• DEET: Apply insect repellent containing DEET according to manufacturer’s directions.

• Doors: Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes to prevent mosquitos from entering your home.

County officials are urging the public to participate in the West Nile Virus surveillance program by reporting dead birds to the State West Nile Virus toll-free hotline at (877) WNV – BIRD (968-2473) or on-line at www.westnile.ca.gov.

During the month of September 2012, San Bernardino County sheriff's helicopter crews documented more than 300 properties and addresses from Fontana to Yucaipa that posed West Nile risks due to untended swimming pools, ponds and stagnant water where mosquitoes that carry the virus may be breeding.

Results of the aerial surveillance were listed by the Sheriff's Department as follows:

Colton: 20 properties, 3 of which needed immediate response

Fontana and Bloomington: 123 properties, 19 of which needed immediate response

Grand Terrace: 7 properties, 1 of which needed immediate response

Highland: 18 properties, 8 of which needed immediate response

Loma Linda: 4 properties, 1 of which needed immediate response

Rialto: 56 properties, 2 of which needed immediate response

Redlands: 27 properties, 1 of which needed immediate response

San Bernardino, Muscoy and Devore: 60 properties, 28 of which needed immediate response

Yucaipa: 11 properties, 0 of which needed immediate response

The documented locations were submitted to Vector Control officials for follow-up actions, according to the sheriff's Aviation Unit.

For more information, contact the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Services at (800) 442-2283 or visit www.sbcounty.gov/dehs.

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