West Nile Virus Ramps Up In Sherman Oaks

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — Summer's ending, and that means cases of West Nile Virus will ramp up. Sure enough, mosquitos trapped in the San Fernando Valley continue to test positive for the virus at increasing rates.

There were 19 positive samples collected since early July, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District reported Monday. The virus, which can go undetected with few to no symptoms in most people infected, can be deadly to others such as the very old or people with weakened immune symptoms. The disease has no known cure.

So far this year, 10 people in Los Angeles have contracted the disease so far this, according to the county health department. Of those 10, 70 percent required hospitalization.

The positive samples were collected in Burbank, Encino, La Mirada, Montebello, Northridge, Panorama City, Porter Ranch, Sherman Oaks, Sun Valley and Van Nuys in the period between July 3 and Aug. 16.

West Nile virus is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito and is a leading cause of severe infections of the nervous system among adults over 50 in Los Angeles County.

Residents are encouraged to make sure that water-holding containers on private property are emptied to prevent mosquito reproduction.

The district also recommends residents use Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellents, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus, to prevent bites and WNV illness.

More information is available at the district's website, www.glacvcd.org, or by calling (562) 944-9656.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock