FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno County has its first case of West Nile virus, this year.
A 50 year old man from Central Fresno is out of the hospital now, after being treated as Fresno County’s first positive West Nile virus case.
In 2016, a total of 442 cases with 19 deaths were reported in California, while Fresno County reported 14 symptomatic human cases with no fatalities, and 2 asymptomatic human cases.
Fresno County Department of Public Health’s Leticia Berber says, “It’s been a while that we’ve had a death but it can be very dangerous or even deadly for individuals with weak immune systems, with diabetes or heart disease or any other disease that can put them at risk of getting sick with the West Nile virus, Encephalitis and so forth.”
Confirmation of this case is a strong reminder that everyone should increase efforts to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” states Dr. Ken Bird, Fresno County Health Officer.
To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes or contracting WNV, Fresno County residents are urged to take the following precautions:
- Apply insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535
- Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes
- Repair or replace screens that have holes
- Eliminate standing water and containers that can hold water from around the home
- Contact mosquito abatement districts to report poorly maintained swimming pools or water features that appear green
Residents can visit the Fresno County Department of Public Health website at www.fcdph.org to download a “Heard the Buzzzzz?” brochure, which contains steps to protect their family, their home, and community
from WNV.
Residents can also call (559) 268-6565 to speak with a mosquito abatement district representative or visit www.fresnomosquito.org, www.mosquitobuzz.net or www.fresnowestmosquito.com for more information.
To report dead birds and dead tree squirrels, visit the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website at www.westnile.ca.gov or call 1-877-WNV-BIRD.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
