VALLEY MAN, 80, IS FIRST WEST NILE FATALITY.Byline: SUSAN ABRAM Staff Writer A San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. man in his 80s has died of West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. , the first fatality reported in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County this year from the mosquito- borne disease, officials said Friday. The unidentified man suffered from other chronic health problems, so officials were unsure of the extent to which the virus contributed to his death. Two other Valley residents and another man from Los Angeles have been infected with the virus, but they are recovering, officials said. "The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of complications and death from West Nile virus than others," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding Jonathan E. Fielding M.D., M.P.H., M.A., M.B.A. is the Director of the Department of Public Health and is the Health Officer for Los Angeles County. In his position as Director Dr. , the county's public health director. The Valley has become a hotbed hotbed, low, glass-covered frame structure for starting tender plants. It differs from a cold frame only in that the soil is heated—either artificially as by underground electric wiring or steampipes, or naturally with partially fermented stable manure, which this year for West Nile West Nile may refer to:
On Wednesday, county officials rushed to clear vegetation from the Pacoima Wash in Panorama City, after the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District said a majority of the 19 infected mosquito pools found in the San Fernando Valley came from the wash. As of Friday, nearly 110 cases of West Nile had been reported in California, the most in the nation. On Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order providing an additional $10 million for local mosquito control agencies. The virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that feed on crows and other birds infected with the disease. Most mosquitoes don't carry the virus, and most people bitten by mosquitoes don't become infected with West Nile, which cannot be transmitted among humans. Those who do become ill experience fever, headache, nausea, body aches and mild skin rashes, health officials said. Complications such as encephalitis encephalitis (ĕnsĕf'əlī`təs), general term used to describe a diffuse inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, usually of viral origin, often transmitted by mosquitoes, in contrast to a bacterial infection of the meninges and meningitis can develop. Health officials recommend residents of all ages take precautions, such as avoiding mosquitoes, removing pools of stagnant water around their homes, and using a repellant containing DEET when outdoors in mosquito-prone areas, especially around dawn or dusk. susan.abram(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3664 |
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