Mosquitoes & West Nile Virus

Earlier in August, there were a few articles published by the Orange County Register stating that a few cities had mosquitoes that were infected with the West Nile Virus – these cities included Costa mesa and La Habra. There was one woman in Laguna Beach who tested positive for this virus, which was the first case to be reported in 2017.

According to the Los Angeles Times, as of September 1st, there have been three people who passed away from the West Nile virus. According to the California health officials, these three individuals lived in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties. There were 19 people in California who died from the virus in 2016.

The West Nile virus exists mostly in birds, but mosquitoes can be infected when biting them. Thus, people who get bitten by the infected mosquitoes will carry the disease. Everyone should be wary of the West Nile season, which usually starts during the summer and ends during fall season. The Department of Public Health has stated that it is a deadly disease and the elderly are particularly susceptible.

Most people don’t realize that they are being bitten by a mosquito until after it happens. If you are out camping or have a mosquito in your home, it can even bite you in your sleep without you knowing. The article states that most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito won’t notice any symptoms, but a small number of them can develop encephalitis or meningitis that can be fatal.

The health officials are recommending that people wear insect repellent and try to cover as much skin as possible when going outside, especially during dawn and dusk. It is also recommended that people drain any water from flower pots or buckets so that mosquitoes won’t be able to lay eggs.

Visit the following links to read more about the West Nile virus, and remember to alert your neighbors and friends to spread awareness.

Resources: http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-west-nile-20170901-story.html

https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html