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First case of West Nile confirmed in Stanislaus County

West Nile Virus, in its worst form, can cause paralysis or death. Stanislaus County officials are reminding everyone to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. — A woman is the first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Stanislaus County this year, according to Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, a Public Health Officer for the county. Dr. Vaishampayan said the woman was diagnosed with neuroinvasive disease. 

In Stanislaus County, the first mosquitoes of the season tested positive for West Nile virus on July 9.

The cases in Stanislaus County aren't the first in the Northern California region this year. The first case in Modesto caught the County by surprise since the East Side Mosquito Abatement District typically finds birds or mosquitoes with the virus before a human case is found. 

That was the case in San Joaquin County, where Mosquito and Vector Control District found mosquitoes that tested positive for the virus in both Tracy and Ripon in June. 

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West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted to people and animals through the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. Hot weather abandoned swimming pools and standing water create ideal conditions for the development of mosquitoes and the subsequent spread of the virus.  

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Most people infected with WNV don't experience any illness, with only about one in five people developing symptoms like headache, fever and fatigue, according to Stanislaus County Officials. Less than one percent will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.  

The virus is especially dangerous for people over 50 and those with diabetes or hypertension. People in those groups have a higher chance of getting sick and develop serious illness when infected with WNV. 

“Because there is no vaccine and no specific treatment, it is very important that people take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” Dr. Vaishampayan said in a release shared by the County.  

PREVENTING WEST NILE

To prevent exposure to mosquito bites and West Nile Virus, public health officials rrecommend individuals follow the “Four Ds.”

  1. DEET – Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 according to label instructions to keep mosquitoes from biting you. Only apply these repellants to exposed skin and clothing and only on people 2 months or older.   
  2.  DAWN AND DUSK – Mosquitoes that carry WNV tend to bite in the early morning and evening, so it is important to wear repellent at this time. Also, make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes.   
  3. DRESS – Wear clothing that reduces the risk of skin exposure to mosquito bites, like long pants and long-sleeved shirts. 
  4. DRAIN – Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Make sure to drain all sources of standing water on your property, including flower pots, old car tires, rain gutters and pet bowls. If you have a pond, use mosquito fish or commercially available products to eliminate mosquito larvae. 

The East Side and Turlock Mosquito Abatement Districts are available to help with neglected pools in the prevention of mosquito development. To request District service, call 209-522-4098 for East Side and  209-634-1234 for Turlock

WATCH MORE: First cases of West Nile Virus found in Tracy, Ripon

West Nile Virus, in its worst form, can cause paralysis or death. San Joaquin County officials are reminding everyone to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

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