VALLEY MAY BE W. NILE HOT SPOT EARLY CLUES SHOW EVIDENCE OF VIRUS IN THE AREA.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer The San Fernando and Antelope valleys and Long Beach may become hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. for the potentially deadly 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. this year, based on early rates of infection in crows and mosquito pools, health experts say. As of Friday, six of 20 mosquito pools surveyed in Long Beach tested positive for the virus. Two crows infected with West Nile were found in Santa Clarita in February, one in Woodland Hills in April, and another in Van Nuys on June 26. Neither of the two human cases diagnosed this year has been in Los Angeles County. Experts said the first human cases appeared later in the year than in 2004, which is why they are cautious about forecasting the next West Nile epicenter. ``No one can really predict it,'' said Dr. David Dassey, deputy chief of Acute Communicable Disease communicable disease n. A disease that is transmitted through direct contact with an infected individual or indirectly through a vector. Also called contagious disease. Control for the county Department of Health Services Department of Health Services may refer to:
``But we know that those places that showed early activity last year, like the San Gabriel Valley The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and to the west of the Inland Empire. , have yet to give us indicators. On the other hand, Long Beach has reported a number of events.'' The virus first appeared in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of in 1999, and it has since moved westward, blanketing the nation. ``It's been different in different places,'' said Christine Pearson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. . ``Generally, we still are seeing most states having some level of activity. West Nile is based on so many different factors, that it's basically hard to make predictions.'' Although infected crows appeared earlier this year, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District is seeing fewer cases compared with this time last year, said spokeswoman Stephanie Heintz. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if last year, West Nile wiped out the crows,'' Heintz said. ``What we have learned from a paper recently written was that infections can happen a lot sooner than we thought they could. It doesn't take long for the virus to be transmitted.'' Heintz also said mosquito populations are leveling off. According to health experts, West Nile virus is spread to humans from the bite of an mosquito that first feeds on a bird that carries the virus. Most mosquitoes do not carry the virus, and most people bitten by a mosquito do not become infected with West Nile. The virus is not contagious among humans, and most of those who are infected do not become sick. But if they do, symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, body aches and mild skin rashes, health officials said. However, complications can develop: 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 , inflammation of the brain; or meningitis, inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord spinal cord, the part of the nervous system occupying the hollow interior (vertebral canal) of the series of vertebrae that form the spinal column, technically known as the vertebral column. . Statewide, 35 counties have reported West Nile this year. Four of six horses that tested positive in four counties have died, more than 300 positive birds in 33 counties and 139 mosquito pools from 16 counties have tested positive. Last year, a total of 828 people were diagnosed with West Nile in California, the most in the nation. There have been 27 deaths to date in California from Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tehama counties. Prevention efforts will continue this year, with vector control having the ability to enter into back yards to treat standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Los Angeles city and county officials passed an ordinance last year that would fine residents $1,000 if they refused vector control to treat standing water within 72 hours. So far, no one has been fined, Heintz said. Meanwhile, the CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation and health experts are still urging residents to wear insect repellent, remove standing water from yards, and secure tattered window screens. A survey taken last year by the CDC showed that 23 percent of residents who live in Washington, Oregon and California wear repellent regularly. That percentage was up from 2003, when 17 percent of the same population used a product to prevent mosquito bites. ``We would love to see a 100 percent repellent usage in the United States,'' said the CDC's Pearson. Susan Abram, (818) 713-36645 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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