County of Orange Reports First Human West Nile Virus Infection of 2018
(Santa Ana, CA) – A Tustin woman in her 70s was diagnosed this week with West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis. She is the first human WNV infection identified in Orange County, California this season.
In 2017, there were 38 reported human infections of WNV and 4 WNV-related deaths reported in Orange County. Most people who become infected with WNV do not experience symptoms, but about 20% will develop fever and may have headache, body aches, nausea, tiredness and sometimes a skin rash. More serious symptoms, such as severe headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness or paralysis, occur more rarely, but people who develop these symptoms should seek medical care immediately. People over 50 years of age and those with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of serious complications from WNV infection. Continue reading