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http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-west-nile,0,6586973.story
A little old, but we missed this one.
Teen First Confirmed Case of West Nile in L.A. County
KTLA News
5:38 PM PDT, August 7, 2009
(Getty Images)
LANCASTER -- Public Health officials say an Antelope Valley teenager is the first person in L.A. County to contract West Nile virus.
The unidentified teen developed symptoms of the disease this year, but has already recovered.
The teenager who developed symptoms had pre-existing medical conditions and developed symptoms of West Nile virus in mid-July, health officials said.
Health officials say two other people in the county who donated blood tested positive for the virus earlier this year but never developed any symptoms.
Their donated blood was not used.
As of Wednesday, West Nile virus has been detected in 38 dead birds, six mosquito pools and 10 sentinel chickens in the county.
The Antelope Valley has shown the most West Nile activity to date, according to public health officials.
In past seasons, most infected birds and mosquitoes have been found in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles County areas.
There have been at least five other West Nile virus cases in the state this year, according to the California Department of Public Health. T
he other cases were reported in Orange, San Diego, Kern and Contra Costa counties. No deaths have been reported from the virus in California so far in 2009.
According to public health officials, fewer than 150 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito become severely ill.
In those rare cases, patients can develop encephalitis or die.
The elderly are most at risk for severe cases of the disease.
Mild cases of the disease are characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, body aches or a mild skin rash.
Information on anti-West Nile efforts is available from the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at (562) 944-9656 or www.glacvcd.org.
A little old, but we missed this one.
Teen First Confirmed Case of West Nile in L.A. County
KTLA News
5:38 PM PDT, August 7, 2009
(Getty Images)
LANCASTER -- Public Health officials say an Antelope Valley teenager is the first person in L.A. County to contract West Nile virus.
The unidentified teen developed symptoms of the disease this year, but has already recovered.
The teenager who developed symptoms had pre-existing medical conditions and developed symptoms of West Nile virus in mid-July, health officials said.
Health officials say two other people in the county who donated blood tested positive for the virus earlier this year but never developed any symptoms.
Their donated blood was not used.
As of Wednesday, West Nile virus has been detected in 38 dead birds, six mosquito pools and 10 sentinel chickens in the county.
The Antelope Valley has shown the most West Nile activity to date, according to public health officials.
In past seasons, most infected birds and mosquitoes have been found in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles County areas.
There have been at least five other West Nile virus cases in the state this year, according to the California Department of Public Health. T
he other cases were reported in Orange, San Diego, Kern and Contra Costa counties. No deaths have been reported from the virus in California so far in 2009.
According to public health officials, fewer than 150 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito become severely ill.
In those rare cases, patients can develop encephalitis or die.
The elderly are most at risk for severe cases of the disease.
Mild cases of the disease are characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, body aches or a mild skin rash.
Information on anti-West Nile efforts is available from the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at (562) 944-9656 or www.glacvcd.org.