L.A. County Woman, 66, Dies of West Nile Disease
A 66-year-old Los Angeles County woman died this week of West Nile disease, becoming the state’s 18th fatality due to the mosquito-borne virus, officials said Friday.
No details were released about the victim.
There have been 654 confirmed human cases of West Nile in California this year, with most of them in Southern California. For about a month, the number of infections has been declining significantly as the weather has cooled and mosquito activity has slowed.
“Looking at the information we’ve received from blood banks, it looks like the number of infected donors is starting to decline,” said Vicki Kramer, chief of vector-borne diseases for the state Department of Health Services.
“We expect a slowdown as the nights get cooler and the days shorter,” Kramer added. “Typically, the peak is August and September, and now we’re moving into October, so we expect to see a decline in transmission. But people should still take precautions.”
West Nile spread last spring and summer from the desert areas of San Bernardino County into other parts of Southern California and then Northern California.
Most victims show no symptoms. About 20% have flu-like problems, including headache, fever, rash and weakness. Fewer than 1% die from the disease.
All of those in the state who have died have been elderly or suffered from serious illnesses.
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