WEST NILE VIRUS HITS THE VALLEY HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN PUBLIC.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been discovered in Glendale and the San Fernando Valley and five people in San Bernardino County have contracted the disease, prompting health officials Friday to warn of a potentially critical health threat.

Mosquitoes trapped in early June in Granada Hills, North Hills and Glendale were determined late Thursday to be carrying the potentially deadly virus.

Officials with the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District expressed concern at the discovery so early in the mosquito season - a fear borne out Friday afternoon when state officials reported that five people had contracted the disease.

``The potential for a significant number of people to be affected is there. We know it's here in bigger numbers and it's spreading, and it's a concern,'' said Robert Miller, spokesman for the California Department of Health Services. ``How big it gets, we don't know. How far it spreads, we can't tell either.''

In Los Angeles County, West Nile previously had been detected only in birds, which serve as hosts for mosquitoes. The infected insects transmit the disease to humans in mosquito bites, which is the only way people can catch the virus.

West Nile has no cure, and most people infected with the virus show no symptoms. However, elderly residents and those with lowered immune systems can experience severe flulike symptoms, including fever and body aches. And while a vaccine does exist for horses, there is no vaccine for humans.

West Nile has been a health threat for several years, and Vector Control officials hired 10 additional employees in 2002 and allocated $500,000 for fiscal 2003-2004 to help head off problems in the San Fernando Valley.

``We've seen it go across the West and we've been preparing ever since that point. We knew it would come here eventually and now it's here,'' said Vector Control spokeswoman Stephanie Miladin.

``There's been positive birds all over Southern California, but once it's in the mosquito population, it increases the risk of people acquiring the West Nile virus. Now it could be a critical public health threat.''

Vector Control specialists plan to increase inspections and sprayings at the Los Angeles River, Tillman Plant, Sepulveda Basin, Hansen Dam and other public water sources including channels, creeks, ponds and underground storm drains to prevent the spread of the virus.

Just in the past month, the district's Valley office inspected 12,000 water sources.

``We've been very diligent and aggressive in our mosquito control efforts,'' Miladin said.

The agency's workers have specific routes, where they spray potential sources with control agents to kill the insect's larvae. Those efforts will be beefed up, with crews visiting each site about once a week, she said.

The district's Valley office has 84 employees, but can hire more specialists or borrow them from other offices should the need arise, Miladin said.

The results returned late Thursday showed the presence of West Nile in four locations: on Rancho Avenue near the Los Angeles Equestrian Center; on Debra Avenue in Granada Hills; and at Plummer Street and Hayvenhurst Avenue, and Bull Creek at Chase Street in North Hills.

Dead crows found earlier this month in Northridge, Reseda and North Hills also tested positive for the virus.

No mosquitoes testing positive for the virus were found in the same areas last year, and only one crow tested positive in Van Nuys in October, officials said.

With five new human cases announced Friday, six people in California and 19 nationwide have contracted the disease, but none has died, officials said. That compares with 9,862 human cases in 2003, when 264 deaths were reported.

Miladin says people can take simple precautions to prevent the disease, such as eliminating sources of standing water, dressing appropriately when outdoors and using mosquito repellent containing the active ingredient DEET.

``We don't want to discourage people from being active in recreation areas,'' Stephanie said. ``We want them to take simple precautions either at dawn or at dusk when mosquitoes are active.''

The news of infected mosquitoes didn't seem to bother golfers who regularly find themselves on the links.

A golfer who identified himself only as Dale said he always carries mosquito repellent when he plays at the Balboa and Encino golf courses, but added he plans to be more careful.

``As far as the threat of the West Nile Virus, I think they pretty well have it under control,'' he said, adding, ``I can see how this would make a person be a little more cautious overall.''

Naush Boghossian, [phone]

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

PEST CONTROL

Here are tips to control the spread of mosquitoes, which can transmit the West Nile virus to humans:

--Repair leaky exterior faucets and relocate dog bowls, old tires, etc., to eliminate standing water near your home.

--Maintain swimming pools and spas.

--Avoid over-watering flower beds and lawns.

--Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are active.

--When outdoors, use mosquito repellents containing DEET.

--Change water in birdbaths at least once a week.

--Secure window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.

--Stock ponds and fountains with mosquito-eating fish, free from your local mosquito control provider.

Source: Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District

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