Tulare County issues health alert after West Nile death

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A man is dead as a result of West Nile Virus in Tulare County, and according to officials, residents would be wise to take precautions.

On Monday, Tulare County Public Health confirmed the county’s first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) for the year. The case resulted in a man’s death, and officials also say they’ve identified at least three dead birds with WNV.

Now, officials say prevention is key and urge the public to be aware of their surroundings to avoid being bitten by a mosquito and contracting the virus.

Officials say residents can:

• Dress in long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk or in areas where mosquitoes are active.
• Drain standing water that may produce mosquitoes.
• Repair or replace door and window screens that have tears or holes.

Residents are also urged not to handle any dead birds themselves, especially with their bare hands.

Instead, residents can report sightings of dead birds to the West Nile Virus Call Center at 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473) or submit a report online at westnile.ca.gov/report. Call Center staff will provide guidance on how to safely prepare the bird for pickup or dispose of it according to public health guidelines.

Officials also warn about St. Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV), which is also spread by mosquitoes and can cause severe illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, and there is no vaccine or medication to treat the virus.

Most people infected with West Nile will have no symptoms, but officials say about 1 in 5 may develop fever or other symptoms. In rare cases, the virus can cause neurological complications, such as meningitis or encephalitis.