Deadly West Nile Virus making annual appearance in Inland mosquito, avian population

Vector control officials say three mosquitoes trapped in the Coachella Valley have tested positive for the West Nile virus, but human cases are down across the Inland area, and statewide.

Coachella Valley Vector Control workers trapped two of the infected mosquitoes in Cathedral City and another was found at the Living Desert zoo near Palm Springs, though no animals have been infected.

That brings the total number virus-positive mosquitoes in the Coachella Valley to six this year – compared with about 50 this time last year. Earlier this month a virus-infected dead crow was discovered in Wildomar – the first bird case this year in Southwest Riverside County. In L.A. County, more than 30 bird cases have been discovered.

So far there have been no confirmed human cases in Riverside or San Bernardino Counties. Health officials say statewide, more than a dozen people have become sick with the virus, including three in L.A. County. The virus is transmitted through mosquito bites.

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West Nile can cause severe flu-like symptoms and even death. The elderly are most at risk, but there have been cases of healthy people in their 30s and 40s becoming permanently disabled. Vector control officials say surveillance, prevention, and treatment efforts have helped prevent widespread infections.

Human cases of the virus peaked in 2004 and 2005 with about 1,500 cases over that 2-year period, and 48 deaths.