First human West Nile virus case of 2022 detected in Sacramento area. What to know
A human case of West Nile virus has been detected in Yolo County, local health officials announced Wednesday morning.
It is the first human case of the disease reported in the Sacramento area this year. The patient became ill last month and is recovering, county officials said in a news release.
“West Nile virus is spread to people by the bite of a mosquito, and there is a risk of contracting West Nile virus in Yolo County this time of year when mosquitoes are active,” Yolo County’s health officer, Dr. Aimee Sisson, said in a statement.
California confirmed 129 human cases and 12 deaths from West Nile virus in 2021, Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District manager Gary Goodman said earlier this year.
People usually develop West Nile virus symptoms between two days and two weeks after being bitten.
Local mosquito and vector control officials reported finding West Nile virus in late May, in a dead bird found in Davis and a mosquito sample taken near Watt Avenue and Longview Drive, along Sacramento city limits with the Arden Arcade and North Highlands neighborhoods in Sacramento County.
About one in every 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop severe illness, the Yolo County health office said, including high fever, headaches, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis and other serious symptoms.
Health officials say the best way to prevent infection with West Nile virus or other mosquito-borne illnesses is to decrease the likelihood of mosquito bites.
Residents can do this by draining standing water; avoiding outdoor exposure during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active; wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors; using insect repellent; and keeping doors and window screens closed and secure.
“By making regular checks of their yards and draining standing water, people can help cut down on mosquito breeding areas,” Sisson’s statement continued. “Wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent will also reduce the risk of mosquito bites.”
Because dead birds can be a sign of increased West Nile virus activity, public health officials ask residents to call 877-968-2473 if they spot one. Residents can also file a report online at fightthebite.net or westnile.ca.gov.
This story was originally published August 3, 2022 at 9:31 AM.
