Five residents of Santa Clara County have been infected with West Nile virus (WNV), according to the county. Two residents had the more severe neuroinvasive form of the disease, West Nile encephalitis, one had West Nile fever, and two residents had no symptoms. Of the three people with symptoms, two were hospitalized and released, and one is currently hospitalized. The county reported all five Santa Clara County residents live in areas of the county with high WNV activity this year.
To see a map of fogging zones where mosquitoes infected with WNV have been detected visit http://bit.ly/Y9MWLM. Unlike last year, when WNV activity in birds and mosquitoes was concentrated in Milpitas and East San Jose, this year WNV activity is concentrated in Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Campbell, west and south San Jose.
Last year there were two human cases of WNV; there was one case in 2011, which was fatal, one case in 2008, four in 2007, and five in 2006.
The risk of becoming seriously ill is low for most people, according to the county. Less than 1 percent of people can develop serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. People over the age of 50 have a higher chance of becoming ill. In addition, people with diabetes or hypertension have a greater risk of complications and serious illness.
Preventative measures include using insect repellents when going outdoors, dressing in long sleeves and pants if outside from dusk through dawn and installing or repairing screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
It is also advised to empty standing water from containers such as flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths.
Report any mosquito breeding sources to the Santa Clara County Vector Control District at sccvector.org or 408.918.4770.
For more information visit California Department of Public Health: http://westnile.ca.gov.
