Long Beach Reports Over Twice The Number of Mosquito-Borne West Nile Virus Cases This Year As In All of 2013; City Urges These Precautions
(Sept. 17, 2014) -- It's been just over six months since LBREPORT.com reported (first again) that two West Nile Virus-infected American crows were found in East Long Beach zip code 90808, roughly two months earlier than in 2013 and -- we wrote at that time -- "may mean an especially active WNV season in the coming months."
On Sept. 16, 2014 LB's Dept. of Health & Human Services acknowledged in a release that the city has thus far had 17 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in 2014, including one death (an ELB man in his 70s.) That's over twice the number of WNV cases as in 2013 when there were 7 WNV cases reported for the entire year.
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"These numbers are consistent with the rest of California, as so far this year 238 human cases have been reported in 26 different counties across the state. The California Department of Public Health is calling this the highest level of infected mosquitoes ever detected. More cases are expected, as this is the time of year when the risk of infection is at its highest," the release says.
[City release text] Residents can take precautions to protect themselves and their family members by following the 5 Ds:
DEET-use a mosquito repellant containing DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow instructions on label.
Dress-where long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Drain-drain stagnant water from around the house, bird baths, pet food, fountains, children’s pools, old tires, etc. Swimming pools should be maintained to avoid mosquito breeding.
Doors-screen all doors and windows to exclude mosquitoes.
Dead Birds-report dead birds to the State’s dead-bird hotline at 1-877-WNV-BIRD
West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no cure for West Nile virus. One in five persons infected with WNV will exhibit symptoms, which usually occur between 5 and 15 days, and can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash. These symptoms can last for several weeks to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death.
The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District handles mosquito abatement services East Long Beach east of Lakewood Blvd. and north of PCH. Roughly 2/3 of LB is handled by the LB Health Dept. (area generally south of PCH and west of Lakewood Blvd.) and part of NLB is handled by a Compton vector control agency.
