West Nile Virus in Encino

This week Encino made the news when the first mosquito of the year infected with West Nile Virus was found here. The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District found it in 91436 in one of their traps (story here - in “Latest News” click on the 7/16/2010 press release). Local NBC picked up the story (here).

Is it anything to worry about really? Perhaps a little, now that the hot weather is here. Human cases have been reported in California in the Central Valley (more on this below).

There are many people eager to panic, which is why NBC backed off sensationalizing the story. They were content to run the usual warning message about paying attention to when mosquitoes are out (dusk and dawn), wearing insect repellent and appropriate clothes and eliminating pools of stagnant water. That means cleaning unused swimming pools, spas and jacuzzis and, if you have a pond, putting in some guppies (mosquitofish). They attack everything, even thirsty bees looking for a drink, but they eliminate the larvae and they live forever.

Mosquitoes spread the virus when they bite and infect birds, mostly crows. The birds “amplify” the virus so that when humans are bitten the virus packs enough punch to have an effect. To quote the LA County press release: “There is no cure for West Nile Virus. One in five persons with West Nile Virus will exhibit symptoms. Symptoms usually occur between 5 and 15 days and can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash. These symptoms can last for several weeks to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death.”

There were 2 new WNV positive human cases reported in California recently in Stanislaus County (around Modesto). State authorities said: “Both cases were initially identified when they donated blood and testing performed by the blood bank confirmed WNV infection. Both women subsequently developed symptoms consistent with West Nile fever; neither was hospitalized.” More here.

Photo: Mathias Krumbholz