For Immediate Release
August 24, 2006

Contact: Deanne Thompson
 (714) 834-2178

Orange County Confirms First Human West Nile Virus Cases of 2006

(Santa Ana) – A 24-year-old resident of Orange and an 85-year-old resident of Anaheim have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the County’s first confirmed symptomatic human WNV cases in 2006, according to County Health Officer Dr. Eric G. Handler.

• The 24-year-old man became ill the first week of August with symptoms of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease. He was hospitalized for treatment and is recovering at home.
• The 85-year-old man first experienced symptoms of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease the first week of August. He remains hospitalized.

An asymptomatic WNV infection was reported earlier this year in a blood donor who was identified through routine blood screening at the time of donation.

This year in California 84 people in 19 counties have been reported with illness due to West Nile Virus and one WNV-related fatality has been reported. Last year, 17 confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus infection were reported in Orange County while statewide, 935 human WNV infections were reported with 19 WNV-related deaths.

“It is important for Orange County residents to recognize that West Nile Virus is an annual seasonal epidemic, flaring up every year during the summer months and continuing into the fall,” said Dr. Handler. “The best way to avoid West Nile Virus infection is to take precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites.”

Recommended WNV precautions include:

• Emptying all standing water on your property to reduce areas in which mosquitoes may breed
• Making sure your window and door screens are in good condition
• Using insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, always following label directions
• Limiting outdoor activity at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors

Most people who become infected with West Nile Virus do not experience symptoms or become seriously ill. Up to 20% of those infected with West Nile Virus will experience symptoms of West Nile fever, which may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, tiredness, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash. Anyone who develops the more serious symptoms of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease, such as severe headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness, or vision loss should seek medical care immediately. People over 50 years of age and those with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of serious complications from WNV infection.

Information on mosquito control is available on the Orange County Vector Control District’s website at www.ocvcd.org. Other websites with helpful information about West Nile Virus include:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov 
• State of California www.westnile.ca.gov
• Orange County Health Care Agency www.ochealthinfo.com

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