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A Los Angeles public health agency overseeing vector control reported mosquito samples positive for West Nile virus, warning residents to take preventative measures.
“West Nile virus is detected by local public health agencies every summer because it is endemic in Los Angeles County,” said Susanne Kluh, director of scientific and technical services for the Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District. , in a statement released Thursday. “This virus is spread through our bird population and transmitted to humans through the bite [of] an infected mosquito. “
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Positive samples were collected from mosquito traps in areas such as Studio City and Tarzana, officials said, noting that a dead bird in the district had also tested positive for West Nile virus.
“Our agency will continue to monitor disease activity and treat affected areas to prevent an epidemic,” Anaïs Medina Diaz, the agency’s public information officer, said in a statement. “But it is very important that residents take mosquito precautions and watch for any symptoms of West Nile virus if they experience mosquito bites outdoors at dusk and dawn.”
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Most people with West Nile virus do not feel sick. However, one in five infected people usually develop a fever and other symptoms such as headache, vomiting or rash, according to the doctor. Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention. It is estimated that one in 150 infected people develop a serious, life-threatening disease affecting the brain and spinal cord. Serious symptoms include a high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, coma and paralysis, Los Angeles officials said.
There is no human vaccine to prevent disease caused by West Nile virus. To avoid West Nile virus, remove standing water in buckets and clogged gutters, apply bug spray, cover yourself with long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and keep mosquitoes away from the house by closing windows and using the air conditioner or screened windows and doors, advises the CDC.
For more information on mosquito-borne diseases and their prevention, click here.
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