A young adult with West Nile virus became the first confirmed case of the infection in LA County in 2015, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced Monday.
The report excludes confirmed cases in Long Beach and Pasadena, because both cities have their own public health system, said a spokeswoman for LA County Public Health.
West Nile virus is spread most often to people after they are bit by an infected mosquito, according to Public Health. While most mosquitoes don't carry West Nile virus, they can become infected from biting birds carrying the virus.
During 2014, 218 people were infected in LA County, including seven fatalities that resulted from the disease, according to Public Health.
The young male from the South Bay area is recovering at home, Public Health announced Monday. He had no medical history, and was hospitalized for West Nile virus earlier this month.
Most people infected with the virus either do not get sick, or experience "mild symptoms that include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, and a mild skin rash," according to the agency.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that less than one percent of people infected develop a serious neurological illness that could prove to be fatal.
There is no specific treatment to combat West Nile virus, but Public Health suggests the following precautions to decrease a person's risk of being infected:
- Avoid mosquito-infested areas at dawn and dusk.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
- Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of eucalyptus, when used as labeled, are effective defenses against mosquitoes.
- Check your window screens for holes.
- Do not allow water to collect and stagnate in old tires, flowerpots, swimming pools, birdbaths, pet bowls, or other containers. These are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools; drain water from pool covers.
- Stock garden ponds with goldfish or other mosquito-eating fish. These eat mosquito eggs and larvae.
- Empty and wash birdbaths and wading pools weekly.
"Vector control agencies in LA County cannot do it alone,” said Truc Dever, general manager for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, in a statement.
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People are encouraged to report dead birds online here, or to call 877-968-2473. Public Health noted that stagnant swimming pools or "green pools" should also be reported to the Public Health's Environmental Health Division at 888-700-9995, or to one of several local vector control agencies.
