Long Beach Health Authorities Report First Case in Southern California: 60-Year-Old Man in Hospital

Long beach announced the return of West Nile virus to Southern California with the first human case of the city virus this season.

The patient, identified only by a 60-year-old person, he was hospitalized with neuroinvasive disease, according to the city's Department of Health and Services.

"While the world is focused on the prevention and response of COVID-19, this is an important reminder that we continue to see cases of West Nile Virus most of the years in Long Beach," he said. Dr. Anissa Davis, City Health Officer, in a statement. "We cannot lower our guard against mosquito-borne diseases."

The case is the second human case reported so far this year in California. The first case was reported in the stanislaus county in Northern California in June.

Authorities say that no mosquitoes in Long Beach have tested positive for West Nile virus so far this season.

Although most infected people show no symptoms, those who do have symptoms may experience fever, body pain, nausea and vomiting. According to the Long Beach Health Department, one in 150 people can develop cerebral inflammation or paralysis.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, and health officials warned residents to take preventative measures such as remove standing water that can attract insects.

Mosquitoes transmit other diseases too, like zika, dengue and chikungunya.

  • Zika, dengue, and chikungunya are spread to people through a mosquito bite Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus infected.
  • Mosquitoes become infected with Zika, Dengue, or Chikungunya viruses when they bite a person infected with one of those viruses. Infected mosquitoes can then pass one of those viruses on to other people.
  • There is no vaccine or medicine against these diseases.
  • Once a person becomes infected with one of those viruses, they are likely to be protected against future infections.

CDC offers a guide in Spanish on how to avoid mosquito bites.

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