The Region - News from Aug. 1, 1985

A strain of encephalitis believed to have caused at least one death in Los Angeles County last year has been found in mosquitoes at Sepulveda Dam near Encino, county health officials said. The mosquitoes, which bear St. Louis encephalitis, were collected from the dam area July 16 as part of the county’s mosquito abatement program, Dr. Shirley Fannin of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services said. No human cases of St. Louis encephalitis have yet been reported this year, but Fannin said it may take several weeks for the virus to show up in humans. St. Louis encephalitis is a viral inflammation of the brain and central nervous system transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes.