County Records 1st West Nile Case

A 71-year-old man became the first Los Angeles County resident to contract the West Nile virus, officials said Friday as the state conducted its first mass spraying of a pesticide they hope will kill virus-infected mosquitoes that spread the disease to humans.

The Los Angeles County case suggests that the virus is continuing its march west from the Inland Empire into metropolitan Los Angeles, brought by infected birds and mosquitoes. A Riverside man also tested positive for West Nile, bringing the total number of California human cases to 10.

All are recovering or have recovered.

Health officials have long been predicting that California would be hit hard this summer by West Nile, which has killed almost 600 people across the United States since 1999.

“Well, you knew it was just a matter of time,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of public health of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

“It’s in the areas where we have seen a significant number of dead crows and mosquito pools, so nothing surprising here.”

Over the last few months, vector control districts have recovered increasing numbers of birds and mosquitoes with the virus in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas, totaling more than 400 since February.

Health officials believe the Los Angeles County victim, who lives in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, was bitten by several mosquitoes, at least one infected with the virus, in early June. He went to a doctor after feeling severe muscle pain and weakness and experiencing fevers and a rash. He is recovering at home, officials said.

“We can expect that we’re going to have significant concentration of West Nile virus for a period of months,” Fielding said.

So far the largest outbreak of West Nile has been in Fontana, Colton and Rialto, where eight people have contracted the virus, prompting officials to declare that West Nile virus has reached “epidemic conditions” in these areas.

Contrary to other parts of the country where there have been angry protests against the spraying of a heavy-duty pesticide, residents of other parts of San Bernardino County are calling to know when their neighborhoods can be sprayed, said Joan Mulcare, the county’s vector control manager.

In Fontana at dawn Friday, a small white pickup rolled at 10 mph through a two-square-mile area of quiet suburban streets releasing Scourge in a fine mist.

The pesticide is designed to wipe out large populations of adult mosquitoes. It’s the first time any neighborhood has been sprayed for West Nile, but probably not the last, officials said.

Residents expressed relief at the effort.

“Oh yeah, it’s great, anything that can help,” said Linda Guzman, 52, who lives a few blocks from where a family of five contracted the virus.

“I hate mosquitoes anyway.”

She did notice the water in the ornate bird bath she has in her neatly manicured backyard was “sort of rusty colored” when she went outside Friday morning. But she said she changes the water regularly so she wasn’t worried about lingering effects from the pesticide.

“We get unhealthful air out here anyway,” said Ariel Garcia, 21, a father of two children who, like most residents, slept through the early morning spraying.

“At least it’s not as bad as the Medfly spray; that stuff stuck all over my truck,” said Don Smock, 50, referring to the controversial spraying of Malathion years ago to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly.

Indeed, signs posted on utility poles and large palms stressed that the spraying was “NOT Aerial Malathion.”

The signs read: “Notice: Disease Control Area. Pesticides to Be Applied for Mosquito Control.”

Children were kept inside for a barbecue at the Mountainview Community Church day-care center a block away, managers said. They were also kept off playground equipment until it could be hosed off.

“They say it’s safe, but with young children you just have to be careful about everything,” said Bob Majcherek, comptroller at the center.

Health officials urge residents to rid property of all standing water -- including potted plants, tires and poorly maintained swimming pools -- and to wear long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk, typical mosquito breeding times.

About 80% of people who are infected don’t feel any symptoms. Those who do usually get fever and rash and experience body aches and weakness, officials said.

About one in 150 victims develops encephalitis -- swelling of the brain -- and less than 1% can die from the virus, officials said.