Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Human West Nile Virus Cases Reported On South Coast

West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans via infected mosquitos

Ventura County Public Health officials say there’s one confirmed case, and two other potential cases of potentially dangerous West Nile Virus in the county.

Because of patient confidentiality laws, the county isn’t releasing specifics about the three cases.

West Nile is a mosquito borne disease. In most cases, people bitten by infected mosquitoes show no symptoms. But, for a small percentage of individuals, it can lead to flu-like symptoms.

For those with weakened immune systems, and the elderly, it can be deadly. County health officials are urging you to use insect repellent if you are outside, and to wear protective clothing, especially around dawn and dusk when mosquito activity is most common.

Tthey say you should make sure you don’t have standing water in old flower pots, buckets, or other containers which might provide breeding areas for the insects.

There is a vaccine available to help horses, which are especially susceptible to the virus, but there isn’t a human version available.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
Related Stories