The first three human cases of West Nile virus in the Los Angeles area were confirmed yesterday.
One 61-year-old patient lives in eastern Long Beach and is recovering, according to city officials. The patient had no known underlying health issues.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that a woman in her 60s in the San Fernando Valley was hospitalized with the virus in mid-July. She remains hospitalized and is still hospitalized.
The second patient, a blood donor, was reported in late July, according to the county. He lives in the southern part of the county and has shown no symptoms and remains healthy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than one in 150 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito become severely sick. But in those rare cases, the virus can cause encephalitis or even death.
Health officials said about 20 percent of people infected with the virus will experience symptoms such as fever, headaches, nausea, swollen lymph glands or a skin rash.
Expert recommend that to avoid the disease, residents should:
— avoid outdoor activities around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active;
— wear long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors;
— apply insect repellents containing active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus;
— keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out; and
— eliminate all sources of standing water around their homes and properly maintain ornamental ponds, pools and spas.
