Beaumont Woman Among First 3 Cases of West Nile in Riverside Co. Since 2009

A Beaumont woman is among the first three human cases of West Nile Virus confirmed in Riverside County since 2009, the county Department of Public Health announced Thursday.

Three women who contracted the illness in August are recovering, according to Dr. Eric Frykman, public health officer for Riverside County.

The 36-year-old Beaumont woman became ill last month and she is recovering at home, health officials said.

The other patients are a 44-year-old Corona woman who became ill in early August and was briefly hospitalized, and a 63-year-old Norco woman who became ill in mid-August and was hospitalized, health officials said in a statement.

There are no indications the cases are related, the statement said.

Officials with the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District said they are stepping up their efforts in the Corona-Norco area, according to health officials.

"While I am glad these patients are recovering, this reminds all of us that there are important steps each of us can take to prevent exposure to mosquitoes that carry the virus," Frykman said.

Laboratory results confirmed the first three cases in Riverside County since 2009, when five people were infected with the virus and three died, public health officials said.

Sixty-two people were infected and four died in 2008, according to the county Department of Public Health. Seventeen were infected and three died in 2007.

Statewide, there have been about 50 confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus this year, health officials said.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to people and animals by bites from infected mosquitoes, according to health officials. A mosquito first acquires the infection by feeding on a bird with the virus in its blood.

The virus is most prevalent from May to October, according to the county Department of Public Health.

Several mosquito samples recently tested positive for West Nile Virus in the Nuevo area, health officials said.

There are no indications the Corona-Norco area is a problem spot and it is possible the virus could be present anywhere in the region, said Major Dhillon, Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District.

The district covers a 250-square-mile area of the county from Jurupa area to Lake Elsinore.

Most of Riverside County is served by a vector control program within the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, health officials said.

Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms, health officials said. Those who become ill suffer from fever, headache, nausea, body aches, mild skin rash or swollen lymph nodes.

In rare cases, the disease progresses to encephalitis or viral meningitis, health officials said. There is no specific treatment for infection.

Those who feel they have symptoms of the virus should contact their health care provider, county Department of Public Health officials said.

County health officials offered the following advice to decrease human exposure to mosquitoes and the infections they may carry:

- Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk.

- When outdoors, wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts and other protective clothing.

- Apply insect repellant according to label instructions.

- Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that are torn or severely damaged.

- Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property that can support mosquito breeding. Maintain and/or repair circulation systems of in-ground swimming pools to prevent the creation of stagnant water conducive for mosquito breeding.

- Report known stagnant swimming pools in your area to local mosquito- and vector-control agency, or code-enforcement agency.

- Contact your local mosquito- and vector-control agency if there is a significant mosquito problem where you live or work.

To find a vector-control agency, go to http://www.rivco-diseasecontrol.org/disease7.htm.