Riverside County has most West Nile virus cases in California

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Health officials are urging Riverside County residents to take precautions as it now has the highest number of people infected by the West Nile virus in California this year.

So far there have been 100 confirmed and probable cases and five deaths.

Greg Stoever knows firsthand the devastating effects the disease can have after his wife contracted it while sitting in the backyard of their Canyon Crest home.

"It got like a rash, and then she came home from work about four days later extremely tired, and the next day she couldn't even get up to go to work. So we took her to the doctor," Stoever explained. "We had to get the city, vector control and everybody together to say, 'Hey, we need to get action on this and get going."

The Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District said it ramped up surveillance of mosquitoes and concentrates 90 percent of its work on killing mosquito larva.

The other 10 percent includes spraying for adult mosquitoes which carry the disease.

The Riverside County Department of Public Health said while mosquito season is almost over, residents should still take precautions such as removing standing water and checking window screens on their homes.