A child from Orange County has tested positive for West Nile virus, became the province’s first confirmed human infection of the year, health officials said this week.
The child – whose name, age and city of residence were not disclosed – was hospitalized but has been reinstated, the Orange County Health Care Agency said Monday.
Officials said the child was diagnosed last week, but did not say how or when the boy was thought to be infected with the mouse-borne disease.
“West Nile virus is endemic in Orange County, recurring every year during the summer months and continuing into the fall,” said Drs. Clayton Chau, director of the Health Care Agency and acting official of the health sector, in a statement. “The best way to prevent West Nile virus infection is to take precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites.”
Mosquito specimens collected in Anaheim, Cypress and Garden Grove tested positive for the virus last month, as a dead bird found in Irvine.
Ten other human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed statewide this year, according to the latest figures from the California Department of Public Health. Eight of them were in Stanislaus County, with the others in Los Angeles and Madera counties.
The virus, first identified in California in 2003, is often transmitted to mosquitoes when they feed on infected birds. The insects can then spread the disease to humans.
While the majority of people infected with West Nile virus do not feel sick, about 1 in 5 will develop symptoms such as fever, nausea, fatigue and pain in the head or body. In more serious cases, patients may experience neck stiffness, severe headaches, confusion, and muscle weakness as lame.
Officials advise residents to take precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites and eliminate areas where the bugs can breed. Tips include emptying standing water sources, using appropriate insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when you are outside and making sure door and window screens are secure.
