Riverside County health officials last week reported the county’s first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus this year. The resident, a minor from western Riverside County, is expected to make a full recovery following hospitalization.
“While West Nile is rarely life-threatening, it can occasionally be serious,” Dr. Geoffrey Leung, public health officer, said in a news release. “The West Nile virus is spread by mosquito bites, and there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of being bitten.”
According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), there have been five other human cases of West Nile Virus reported in the state as of Aug. 2 — two in Yuba County, one in Contra Costa County, one in Fresno County and one in Kings County.
Most people with West Nile Virus will not experience any symptoms, but about 20% of people will experience symptoms such as fever, headache and nausea. Extreme cases can cause vision loss, numbness and paralysis. West Nile Virus can be fatal.
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“It’s important to take precautions to prevent illness, especially for those who are [at] high risk,” Leung said. “High risk groups include people over the age of 60 years, people with weakened immune systems, and those with diabetes, kidney disease or other chronic medical conditions. These groups should take extra precautions.”
To prevent mosquito-borne illnesses, Leung said people should apply insect repellent before going outside, wear long sleeves and long pants if spending time outside at dawn and dusk, make sure all windows and doors have screens to keep mosquitoes out of the home, dump or drain standing water regularly and contact local mosquito and vector control agencies if there’s a noticeable increase in the number of mosquitoes.
Last year, Riverside County reported 21 confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus. More information about West Nile Virus — including symptoms, treatment and prevention — can be found here on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention website.
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