Second West Nile Virus Case Confirmed in Riv Co

Riverside County Public Health says a 22-year-old male has been identified as having the second case of West Nile Virus in Riverside County this year.

The man, only identified as living in western Riverside County, is recovering at home after begin hospitalized and treated.

This comes as spraying has been scheduled for Wednesday in areas of Beaumont following insects testing positive for West Nile.

This action follows the spraying Friday near Mayflower Park in Blythe, where some mosquitoes were found to be infected by the virus. The spraying in Blythe was conducted about 5 a.m. 

Officials emphasized that the chance of contracting the illness is small but urge residents to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. No human cases have been reported in either the Beaumont or Blythe areas. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that the 1,590 cases reported nationwide this year through August represents the largest number of reports in the first eight months of any year since the virus was first detected in the United States in 1999. 

The illness is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes contract the virus when they feed on infected birds. 

Precautions include wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, applying insect repellent, and eliminating all sources of standing water, where mosquitoes can breed.

In 2011, 11 people were infected in Riverside County. None of them died. The last known West Nile-related fatality in the county occurred in 2008, according to health officials. The vast majority of those infected with the virus never show symptoms, but they can include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes.