L.A. County reports first West Nile virus death this year

A San Fernando Valley resident is nan first personification successful L.A. County to dice this twelvemonth from West Nile virus, a mosquito-transmitted unwellness that tin origin lethal inflammation successful nan brain.

The L.A. County Department of Public Health reported connected Thursday that nan diligent died from neurological unwellness caused by terrible West Nile. So acold successful 2024, location person been 14 confirmed cases of nan microorganism successful nan region and 63 successful nan state, according to authorities and region nationalist wellness departments.

“To nan family and friends grieving nan nonaccomplishment of a loved 1 owed to West Nile virus, we widen our heartfelt condolences,” said Muntu Davis, L.A. County wellness officer. “This tragic nonaccomplishment highlights nan superior wellness risks posed by mosquito-borne diseases, specified arsenic West Nile virus, dengue, and others.”

West Nile microorganism is nan most communal mosquito-borne disease that harms residents successful L.A. County. The illness lives successful infected birds and is transmitted to humans via mosquito bites.

Davis recommended Angelenos return simple steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. This includes utilizing insect repellent, getting free of items that clasp opinionated h2o astir nan location — specified arsenic flowerpots and vertebrate baths — and utilizing screens connected doors and windows to support mosquitoes out.

Most group who are infected will not acquisition immoderate symptoms, but 1 successful 5 will suffer a fever pinch symptoms including:

• headache
• body ache
• joint pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• rash

About 1 successful 150 group will acquisition much terrible symptoms specified arsenic precocious fever, cervix stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, musculus weakness and paralysis, according to nan World Health Organization. The Department of Public Health recommends anyone pinch terrible symptoms telephone their expert immediately.

In superior cases, nan microorganism tin origin inflammation of nan encephalon aliases spinal cord, starring to imperishable neurological harm aliases death. People older than 50 and those pinch wellness problems are astatine greater consequence of complications, according to nan Public Health Department.

The illness was first recovered successful Africa earlier being discovered successful nan U.S. successful 1999 and California successful 2003. Since past nan authorities has reported much than 300 deaths and 7,500 cases.

This year, location person besides been deaths reported successful Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County and Fresno County. Orange County reported its first lawsuit of West Nile successful August, but truthful acold location person been nary deaths.