Health Journal Entry

West Nile Hits Early in California (March 23, 2005)

West Nile virus is hitting California early this year. The virus has already been found in nineteen counties in the state. Health officials say it's a sign there's a tough battle with the mosquito-borne illness ahead.

This years's conditions are favorable for breeding mosquitoes. Heavy winter rains left pools of standing water across the state. In many areas, the wet weather was followed by hot weather the insects thrive in.

Health officials urged homeowners to check around their homes for water pools in flower pots and other containers where mosquitoes could breed.

So far, there have been no human cases in the state. The virus has been found mostly in dead birds. But last year, there were over 800 human cases in the state, with 27 deaths.

Most people infected with the virus have mild flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. Only about one percent of those infected get an often deadly inflammation of the brain or spinal column.

Nationwide, there were about 2,500 cases of West Nile reported in 2004 with 88 deaths. The majority of the cases were in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Louisiana. Forty states had at least one human case. The only state completely free of the virus was Washington.