Bay Area West Nile Virus Death Reported
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A Contra Costa resident died this month from West Nile virus infection — the first West Nile virus-related death since 2006 in the county, health officials said Friday.
The death was reported to the county July 16 and was a man in the East County area.
“This is a tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss,” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy county health officer. “This death also reinforces how important it is to reduce risk of West Nile virus infection by reducing our exposure to mosquitos.”
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Contra Costa Health’s Communicable Disease Program is investigating the death and has not determined where the man became infected. Because of medical privacy policies, CCH will not release further details about the case.
The county said Friday that the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District has detected other recent evidence of the virus’s presence in East County. One dead bird and five sentinel chickens, all located in Oakley, have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County.
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Certain birds can become infected with West Nile virus, and when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected. An infected mosquito can spread the virus to a human or other animal through a single bite. The infection can be dangerous to humans, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or rash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Contra Costa County resident to West Nile virus,” said Paula Macedo, general manager of the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. “This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and supporting community efforts to control mosquito populations.”
Contra Costa County residents can help the district identify areas of potential WNV risk by reporting dead birds to the California Dead Bird Call Center by phone at 1-877-968-2473 or online at westnile.ca.gov. Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus in a particular area. By reporting dead birds, residents provide the district with critical information that allows District employees to set mosquito traps near the site of the dead bird to look for infected mosquitoes. If those mosquitos are found, the district will take timely action to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for neighboring residents.
West Nile virus activity is typically higher during the summer months. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the vector control district recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:
The vector control district provides public mosquito service to county residents. To request district service, call 925-685-9301 or visit www.contracostamosquito.com and click on “I Want to” at the top of the webpage, then select “Request Services” from the drop-down menu.
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