WEST NILE CONFIRMED IN VALLEY WOMAN WITH FEVER IS FIRST IN L.A. COUNTY FOR THE YEAR.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer An unidentified 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. woman who sought treatment for a fever was confirmed Wednesday as this year's first 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 resident to contract 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. , health officials said. The confirmation comes as no surprise since the number of positive mosquito pools and dead crows - typical indicators that the virus is in an area - have increased in the Valley in the last few weeks, said Dr. Laurene Mascola, director for the Acute Communicative Disease Unit for the county's Health Services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract Department. Last month, 10 mosquito pools in the Valley tested positive for the potentially deadly virus. ``We've had positive birds and mosquitoes for a while, so it was a matter of time before we had our first case,'' Mascola said. ``It's starting to pick up a little more than it has,'' said Stephanie Heintz, spokeswoman for the Greater Los Angeles 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. District, which collects mosquitoes for testing. ``This time last year is when we had our most human cases. It's beginning to parallel what we had last year.'' There were 331 confirmed human cases and 14 deaths in Los Angeles County in 2004. Health officials say the county's first human case of the year came later than what they had seen in the past. Mascola said she also is seeing that people who test positive are more likely to suffer from fevers than meningitis meningitis (mĕnĭnjī`tĭs) or cerebrospinal meningitis (sĕr'əbrōspī`nəl), acute inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. or 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 most serious complications of the virus. Among those who have tested positive statewide this year, 55 suffered from fevers while 33 people were tested because of neuroinvasive symptoms. ``I think physicians are thinking more about it,'' she said. ``People are getting tested.'' Health and vector control experts say this year's West Nile virus activity is still difficult to predict, even though the virus has been in California for a few years. On Monday, vector control officials plan to begin aerial spraying of larvacide over Hansem Dam to help reduce the mosquito population. The park, including the sports fields and swim lake, will be closed to visitors for two to three hours beginning at 6:30 a.m. during the spraying. Susan Abram, (818) 713-3664 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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