(Aug. 28, 2008) -- A second West Nile death in OC has prompted LB's Health Dept. to reiterate warnings and safety tips regarding the mosquito-borne disease. LBReport.com provides the LB Health Dept. release text below.

By way of context, a release from OC's Health Care Agency says the second OC WNV victim is a 64 year old Garden Grove man who died in August after being hospitalized. As first reported Aug. 25, a 72 year old Buena Park woman died in August after being hospitalized. OC County now has its highest number of WNV infections since 2004, when it had four WNV-related deaths.

LB has reported no human cases this year to date. In 2004, WNV hit LB hard...with human cases reported including the death of an elderly woman in the area of Wardlow Rd/Clark Ave.

Today's (Aug. 28) LB Health Dept. release text follows:

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Health Department officials indicate that although no human cases have been documented in Long Beach at this time, the virus has been detected in birds and mosquitoes throughout the City. The vast majority of human cases of WNV infection in California so far this year have been in the southern regions of the state (72 of the total of 92 cases). A significantly higher number of positive birds and mosquitoes have been observed statewide in 2008 as compared to 2007. The last human WNV infections in the City of Long Beach were in 2005, when four human WNV infections were reported (and no deaths reported).

"WNV remains a threat to public health, and it is difficult to predict the patterns of disease across the State from year to year. This requires everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and their families," said Dr. Mauro Torno, Acting City Health Officer.

West Nile Virus is most often transmitted from infected birds to mosquitoes, which in turn can infect humans. To reduce the risk of exposure to the virus, Long Beach Health Officials are advising residents to take the following precautions:

• Avoid mosquito-infested areas especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

• Mosquitoes can breed in standing water. Dumping or draining water will interrupt the mosquito life cycle. Eliminate standing water on your property by dumping or draining water in neglected ponds, birdbaths, fountains, buckets, old tires or anything that can hold water.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.

• Use mosquito repellant containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Residents should follow instructions on the label. For children under the age of two, consult with your pediatrician for appropriate concentrations of DEET.

• Keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes and check to make sure your window screens are in good condition.

• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools; drain water from pool covers.

• Limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants to twice a week to avoid run off to gutters and around sprinklers.

• Report dead birds or tree squirrels to www.westnile.ca.gov.

For more information, contact the City of Long Beach DHHS, Vector Control Program at 562.570.4132 or online at www.longbeach.gov/health.

Additional information about WNV can be obtained at the State of California Department of Health Services website at www.westnile.ca.gov, or at the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile.

LB's Health Officer, Dr. Helen Calvet, MD, says her agency (which collects data for LB independently from L.A. County) says that to her knowledge as of 3 p.m. today (Aug. 26) LB has no confirmed WNV human cases. "And we urge people to continue taking anti-mosquito measures to minimize chances of being bitten," Dr. Calvet said...who added that she's seen a dead crow in her own neighborhood.

In a release, the OC Health Care Agency agency says a 72 year old Buena Park woman died in August after being hospitalized. It adds that "while people over 50 years of age are at increased risk of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease, the more serious form of West Nile Virus infection, there have been several cases reported this year in individuals under 50, including one juvenile."

The latest OC Health Care Agency figures released today (Aug. 26) show the following confirmed human WNV Neuroinvasive disease [the more serious form of WNV that can include encephalitis, meningitis and acute flaccid paralysis which can be life threatening]:

The less serious form of the illness, West Nile Fever, was reported in four OC men (ages 27-57) and OC woman (39).

L.A. County's Health Dept. reports that as of August 21 (not including Pasadena and Long Beach, whose Health Depts. keeps separate data) there have been 32 cases "L.A. Countywide" (and declines to provide information by city). It says 25 people have been hospitalized, 22 with Neuroinvasive WNV (6 with lesser West Nile Fever and 4 with no symptoms).

As separately reported by LBReport.com, the Greater L.A. County Vector Control District (GLACVD), which handles mosquito abatement in about half of LB (north of PCH, east of Lakewood Blvd.) has reported an increase over the past two weeks in the number of dead crows retrieved from ELB.

LBReport.com readers have independently reported seeing more dead crows over the past week or so. Dead crows are a commonly used barometer of mosquitoes carrying the WNV virus, since WNV is always fatal to crows. GLACVCD notes that increased reports of dead birds may or many not represent increased WNV activity...since it may also reflect heightened public awareness in cities like LB (and more people calling them in).

Health officials estimate that roughly 80% of people bitten by a WNV mosquito don't show any symptoms. About 1 in 5 develop a fever or relatively mild symptoms, but in about 1 in 150 infections, the WNV virus develops into West Nile Neuromuscular Disease...and can be fatal.

On August 19, LB's Health Dept. produced a map showing positive LB WNV mosquito and dead bird activity. LB's Health Dept. urges residents to assume the virus is now basically everywhere in LB...and on its website advises the following anti-mosquito guidelines.

• Remove pools of standing or stagnant water. Debris piles, buckets, barrels, kid’s toys, and tire swings are some common sources of stagnant water. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle and they are most active around stagnant water.
• Clear gutters and drains of standing water.
• Change water in birdbaths frequently.
• Maintain swimming pools and spas with proper filtration and chlorination levels. Green or dirty pools can breed thousands of mosquitoes in a week's time, unnecessarily increasing the population's risk of contracting WNV.
• Limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants to twice a week to avoid run off to gutters and around sprinklers.
• Limit your time outdoors when you notice mosquito activity (primarily at dusk and dawn). If you remain outdoors while mosquitoes are biting, wear clothing that provides more coverage of your skin (such as long sleeved shirts and pants).
• Use mosquito repellents containing 10-30% DEET when outdoors and especially between dusk and dawn. The repellent should be sprayed on clothing and exposed skin. Residents should follow instructions on the label. Consult with your child's pediatrician for appropriate concentrations to be used on children under the age of two.
• Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens and are in good repair.