West Nile Virus Has Infected 528 People and Killed 32 in California This Year; Los Angeles County Accounts for 304 Cases
CALIFORNIA — The latest data from the California Department of Public Health, as of November 6, show West Nile virus has infected 528 people in California this year and killed 32, across 23 counties, a case-fatality rate of about 6% and the highest level in nearly five years. Los Angeles County is the hardest hit, reporting 304 infections and 13 deaths, about 58% of the state's cases; Orange County reported 7 deaths, with deaths spread across nine counties. From late October to November 6, the state added 76 new infections, showing mosquito-borne transmission continuing into the start of winter. Surveillance also found 4,098 mosquito samples testing positive across 29 counties and 772 dead birds infected across 25 counties. West Nile virus is spread mainly by infected Culex mosquitoes and can cause meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis and other serious neuroinvasive disease; there is no approved human vaccine or specific antiviral treatment. The department urges residents to eliminate standing water, use insect repellent and seek care promptly for symptoms such as fever and headache. The data were published on the department's West Nile virus website.
Source: California Department of Public Health
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：库蚊。Wikimedia Commons，GFDL 1.2。 / Photo: Culex mosquito. Via Wikimedia Commons, GFDL 1.2.
