A 60-year-old southwest Riverside County woman was hospitalized, according to Dr. Cameron Kaiser, public health officer of Riverside County.
The infected woman was recovering at home Friday.
Elderly individuals and people with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk for serious illness from West Nile Virus.
There were 19 confirmed human cases of WNV in Riverside County in 2012.
There have been no deaths from the illness since 2008.
The Riverside County Department of Public Health released a list of precautions to reduce your risk of mosquito-borne diseases:
- Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk.
- When outdoors, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and other protective clothing.
- Apply insect repellent according to the label instructions.
- Make sure that the doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
- Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property that can support mosquito breeding.
- Contact your local mosquito and vector control agency if there is a significant mosquito problem where you live or work.
A comprehensive surveillance program to monitor for the virus in Riverside County has been established by the Department of Environmental Health's Vector Control Program, local mosquito and vector control districts and other state and local agencies. The program includes testing suspect cases in humans and horses, capturing and testing certain species of mosquitoes with potential for disease transmission, testing sentinel chickens and evaluating dead birds. These surveillance techniques allow the vector control agencies to focus their mosquito control efforts. Anyone who becomes ill after exposure to mosquitoes should contact their health care provider. The Disease Control Office can be reached at (951) 358-5107 for more information on West Nile Virus.
Information about WNV is available at:
- California West Nile Virus Website
- Riverside County Disease Control
Dead birds can be reported on the state's website or by calling toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473).
- Information on West Nile Virus on the web: California West Nile Virus Website
