• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

West Nile Virus Topic of Town Hall Meeting

Posted on: Monday, 25 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

Jul. 23--One California resident has died from West Nile virus and 21 people have tested positive for infection.

An elderly man from Kings County was the first fatal case of the disease this year, state officials reported. Of those infected, one lives in San Bernardino County and another four live in neighboring Riverside County.

Though infections are not swarming as they were about this time in 2004, public health officials and local leaders are pleading with residents to take precautions.

Today, Assemblywoman Gloria Negrete McLeod and the West Valley Vector Control District will hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss the dangers associated with the mosquito-borne virus, its symptoms and tips to preventing its spread.

The meeting, set for 10 a.m. to noon at De Anza Teen Center, 1405 S. Fern St., Ontario, will also include remarks by Jack Raney.

Raney, an Upland resident, was a victim of West Nile in 2004.

The former bricklayer spent a month and a half in a coma and needs physical therapy up to three times a week because of a mosquito bite.

Earlier this year, McLeod, who represents the 61st District, lobbied to have funding restored to fight West Nile in Southern California.

Initially, $7 million was allocated for mosquito abatement, but was earmarked only for the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento County.

Funding is now available to agencies already fighting West Nile.

For information about the meeting, call (909) 621-2783.

2005 WEST NILE VIRUS ACTIVITY IN CALIFORNIA:

--Human deaths: 1 (Kings County) -

--Human infections: 21 (1 case in San Bernardino County, 4 in Riverside County)

--Horses: 27

--Dead birds: 619

--Sentinel chickens: 5

--Present: In 44 of 58 counties

Source: California Department of Health Services

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

--San Bernardino County Vector Control Program, (800) 442-2283

--West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, (909) 627-0931

-----

To see more of the San Bernardino County Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sbsun.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: San Bernardino County Sun

More News in this Category