Long Beach health officials have confirmed the city’s first human West Nile virus infection of this mosquito season, and local authorities say it is the first symptomatic human case reported in California this year. The patient developed neuroinvasive illness, was hospitalized and has since returned home to recover. It remains unclear where the person was bitten by an infected mosquito, a mystery that is not exactly the summer headline Long Beach was hoping for.
In a statement to NBC Los Angeles, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services said the infected person was hospitalized with neuroinvasive illness and is now recovering at home. The department did not release the individual’s age or gender. City health officials urged residents to stick with ordinary mosquito-bite precautions while surveillance continues across the city.
State surveillance shows early activity
According to the statewide dashboard from the California West Nile Virus Program, there was one human case, 135 West Nile virus positive mosquito samples and 89 West Nile virus positive dead birds as of Friday. The state report lists Los Angeles County as the source of the single human case and shows 20 positive mosquito samples in the county to date.
Local detections came weeks earlier
The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District confirmed that mosquito traps in Long Beach and Pico Rivera tested positive for West Nile virus in May, which the district described as an early sign that mosquito season is underway. GLACVCD urged residents to dump standing water, report neglected swimming pools and use repellent so mosquito populations do not get a head start.
Symptoms and prevention
Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms. When illness does occur, it can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash, and about one in 150 infections progresses to severe neuroinvasive disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes there is no human vaccine or specific antiviral treatment. The agency recommends using EPA registered repellents such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus, wearing long sleeves and long pants at dawn and dusk, keeping screens on windows and doors in good repair and removing standing water around homes.
City response and how to report
Long Beach’s Vector Control Program is treating areas with high mosquito activity daily and coordinating with the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District and the Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District, city officials said. Residents can report mosquito problems online or by calling the Bureau of Environmental Health at (562) 570-4132, and dead birds should be reported to the state at 1-877-WNV-BIRD, according to the Long Beach Health and Human Services West Nile information page.
What to expect this summer
State and county surveillance showing early West Nile virus activity across multiple counties underscores the need for vigilance as temperatures rise and people spend more time outdoors, according to the California West Nile Virus Program. Officials said reporting standing water, keeping pools maintained and using repellent will help vector control crews focus their efforts and reduce risk as mosquito season continues.
