Torrance Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus
Trapped mosquitoes collected at Torrance's Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve tested positive for West Nile virus on Friday, reports The Daily Breeze.
"This is the first (report) on the west side (of the county)," said Bob Saviskas, executive director of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control District.
Earlier this month two men tested positive with the virus. In June four dead birds tested positive in Cerritos and the San Gabriel Valley.
Saviskas added that the virus is endemic in the county and has been detected in either mosquitoes or dead birds in more than 60 county zip codes.
The number of West Nile virus reports is the highest its been since 2004, the last epidemic year.
"We're seeing a lot of activity, not just in L.A. County but all of Southern California," said Truc Dever, spokeswoman for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. "The summer is not over. We're seeing our positive West Nile virus activity continue to increase. We're using every available medium of communication to get the word out about the seriousness of the public health threat."
Three county people have fallen ill from the virus this year, including a Valencia man who tested positive this week. Adding to the count are 45 dead birds, 175 mosquito samples and four "so-called" sentinel chickens - all of whom have tested positive for the virus.
Studies say that only 1% of infected humans develop a serious illness; 80% will not show any symptoms. The remaining victims "suffer flu-like symptoms of body aches, fever and headaches for a few days." The elderly are most at risk.
Saviskas has a message for those panicked about the virus: Get used to it. "It is endemic in Los Angeles County and it is always going to be here," he said.
