Victim recuperating at home, officials say
A Suisun City resident is the first confirmed case of West Nile virus in Solano County this year, Dr. Bela T. Matyas, Solano County health officer and health and social services deputy director, said in a news release Wednesday.
Two other human cases of West Nile Virus also have been confirmed this year, one in Contra Costa County and one in Tulare County.
The Solano County victim has been identified only as being between 40 and 50 years old. After a short hospitalization for West Nile-associated meningitis, the person is recuperating at home, Matyas said.
West Nile virus usually is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito, Matyas said.
He said while anyone can be infected, those 50 and older have a greater chance of getting sick and developing complications, and recent data indicate that those with diabetes, hypertension or both also have a higher risk of developing severe illness.
While most won’t show any symptoms, one in five show symptoms that resemble influenza, and fewer than 1 percent of those develop severe neurological disease, as the Suisun City resident did, said Dr. Michael Stacey, Solano County chief medical officer and deputy health officer.
He said symptoms are headache, fatigue, fever, a skin rash on the trunk of the body, swollen lymph glands and eye pain, with more severe forms affecting the central nervous system causing meningitis and encephalitis.
West Nile virus activity usually takes place in summer, STacey said, and the most hazardous times are dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. Those outdoors at those times should wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and insect repellant containing DEET, picaradin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535, which are all registered with the U.S. EPA.
Solano County Mosquito Abatement District provides residents with ornamental ponds with free mosquito fish, available by calling 707-437-1116.
Since they can be carriers, dead birds and tree squirrels may be reported online to www.westnile.ca.gov or by calling 877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473); those interested may visit the websites www.westnile.ca.gov or www.cdc.gov.
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