WEST NILE CASES RISE STATEWIDE BUT L.A. COUNTY'S INFECTED PLUMMETS FROM 309 TO 43.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer Although the third season of the 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. was supposed to be milder, California saw cases rise to 910, one-third of the 2,733 cases diagnosed nationally, health officials said Thursday. A total of 18 Californians died this year, compared with 27 last year, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report released by 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. But the number of people infected increased from from 779 last year, which was widely expected to be the state's worst year. Most of those cases were in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . Although the vast majority of people infected this year were in the Northern and Central parts of the state, Los Angeles County did have 43 cases, including 18 in the 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. . That was followed by 16 cases in 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. and eastern part of the county and six in the South Bay. The number of cases in the county this year is down significantly from last year, which saw 309 people infected. Also, 12 people died last year and no one has died this year in the county. ``What we've seen across the country is that places that have a very heavy year tend not to have a heavy year the next year,'' said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, the county health officer. ``Nobody really knows the answer why this happens, whether it's a decline in the susceptible bird population, certainly the good job vector control Vector control is any method to limit or eradicate the vectors of vector born diseases, for which the pathogen (e.g. virusor parasite) is transmitted by a vector which can be mammals, birds or arthropods, especially insects, and more specifically mosquitoes. does or education efforts. But I think there are factors beyond those we don't understand yet.'' Stephanie Heintz, spokeswoman for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, agreed the downward trend in the county involves several factors, including a warmer summer, more intensive education efforts and increased mosquito abatement efforts. ``It could have been a little bit of everything,'' Heintz said. ``There is a theory that people gain an immunity to the virus. Maybe last year, there were a lot more cases than were reported and people gained an immunity. Maybe that's why we didn't have as many cases reported this year.'' In the six years since the virus was first diagnosed 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 and spread across the country, the virus has demonstrated dramatic fluctuations in both the number of people infected and horses, birds, sentinel chickens and mosquito pools. Experts say these fluctuations are due to changing temperatures, rainfall and humidity, bird reservoirs, mosquito populations and efforts by mosquito abatement districts to kill mosquitoes. One reason for the drop in the number of infections in the county since last year could be decreases in local mosquito populations. And from March through May of this year, the season was much cooler compared with last year. As a result, mosquito increases normally seen in late spring were delayed. Also, record rainfall this year created larger-than-normal bodies of water and diluted nutrients, which could have slowed mosquito development. Another possible explanation is the large numbers of crows that died last year from the virus. The virus is transmitted to people and animals through mosquito bites. About 80 percent of those who are infected have no symptoms, but in some cases people can suffer paralysis and 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 . The elderly and those with weakened immune systems immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. are at greatest risk for the illness. Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985 troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com |
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