(June 14, 2004, updated June 24) -- Just days after the state of CA reported its first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in San Bernardino County (details below), the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (via its nicely upgraded web site at www.glacvcd.org] reports state-provided data indicate more dead American crows have recently tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) in southeast L.A. County from locations including:

• Cerritos: 5 (collected 5/28-6/1)
• Whittier: 9 (collected 5/18-5/28)
• Downey: 7 (collected 5/26-5/28)
• La Mirada: 5 (collected 5/25-6/1)

The areas reporting WNV-infected dead crows have previously reported WNV-infected dead birds in 2004. LB has not yet reported WNV-infected dead birds in 2004, although one was found in nearby Lakewood a few weeks ago and several WNV-positive dead crows have been found in Cerritos over the past several weeks. LB had three WNV-infected birds in 2003.

In its June 11 Arbovirus Surveillance Bulletin, the CA Dept. of Health Services also announced the first human California case of West Nile Virus in 2004: a 40-year old woman from San Bernardino County.

"She experienced fever, headache, and body aches on May 17. By May 19, she had developed a non-pruritic rash on her trunk and extremities. She also noted weakness and fatigue. She was seen as an outpatient on May 23 and again on May 26 at which time blood was drawn for WNV testing. A WNV screening test was positive at the referring facility and the specimen was forwarded to DHS Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL) where PRNT tests confirmed WNV. The patient has since recovered except for complaints of a residual headache and fatigue," the weekly CA Dept. of Health Services advisory says.

In a seven day period ending June 10, 111 dead American crows tested positive for WNV from the counties of San Bernardino (59), Los Angeles (43), and Riverside.

"A total of 143 bird carcasses were tested from these three counties accounting for 77.6% positive results (111/143)," the CA Dept. of Health Services said.

[June 24 update] LBReport.com has confirmed that WNV-positive mosquitoes were not not found in LB, contrary to indications from a weekly map previously posted on the www.westnile.ca.gov web site.