Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Riverside County gets 1st confirmed case of Zika virus
A dead Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits Zika virus, sits under a microscope on Feb. 17, 2016 at Orange County Vector Control.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Maria Rodriguez, a seasonal technician part of Orange County Vector Control's Aedes investigation team, holds fliers that staffers hand out at Anaheim residences on Feb. 17, 2016. The department is working to set up Zika virus testing in-house, which would greatly increase turnaround time for test results.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Riverside has joined the list of counties with known Zika virus infections.
State health officials said Tuesday a 50-year-old man who resides in southwest Riverside County was likely infected while traveling in the Dominican Republic.
“While Riverside County is one of the last counties in Southern California to have a confirmed case, we always knew it would happen eventually,” said Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser in a written statement. “We will continue working with our partners in health care and vector control to protect our residents, especially pregnant women and the unborn, who are most at risk.”
The Riverside man was expected to make a full recovery, the California Department of Public Health said in a statement.
Support for LAist comes from
No locally-acquired cases have been confirmed in the continental United States, and as of Friday state health officials were reporting only 68 total cases in California.
Most of those have been reported in Los Angeles (19 cases) and San Diego (16) counties.
Zika virus infections in California, 2015-2016
| County | Travel-associated | Locally acquired |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 5 | 0 |
| Contra Costa | 4 | 0 |
| Los Angeles | 19 | 0 |
| Marin | 1 | 0 |
| Napa | 1 | 0 |
| Orange | 6 | 0 |
| San Bernardino | 3 | 0 |
| San Diego | 16** | 0 |
| San Francisco | 2 | 0 |
| San Joaquin | 3 | 0 |
| San Mateo | 2 | 0 |
| Santa Clara | 1 | 0 |
| Solano | 1 | 0 |
| Sonoma | 1 | 0 |
| Stanislaus | 1 | 0 |
| Yolo | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 68 | 0 |
(Laboratory-confirmed and probable infections as of July 1, 2016. ** indicates figure includes one non-resident. | Source: California Department of Public Health)
Zika virus has been linked to birth defects and can be sexually transmitted, but mosquito bites are reported far more frequently as the mode of transmission.
So far only one case of sexually-transmitted Zika virus has been reported in California.
Aedes aegypti, a mosquito known to carry Zika, has been found throughout California, but so far health officials have identified no confirmed cases of a local mosquito infecting someone in the state.
Support for LAist comes from
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued health advisories for travelers to Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands. Officials recommend taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites and to talk with your doctor about the risks if you’re pregnant. Make sure to use insect repellent that includes one of the following ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, OLE or PMD. Officials also advise using condoms if you plan to be sexually active.
For more information on Zika virus and how you can protect yourself, see our FAQ here.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist