More Signs Of West Nile Detected Around Contra Costa County

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA—The Mosquito and Vector Control District said Friday that new signs of West Nile virus have appeared this week in Contra Costa County.

The district said groups of infected mosquitoes were trapped in Martinez and Bethel Island, an American crow was found dead in San Ramon, and three sentinel chickens tested positive for antibodies in the Holland Tract.

An East County man died from West Nile virus on July 16, marking the first death from the disease reported in Contra Costa County since 2006. Until last week, it was the lone death this year from WNV in California.

On Wednesday, Santa Clara County reported two human cases, one of which turned fatal. The first case was an adult hospitalized but now recovering at home. The second case was an adult who was immunocompromised and died this month at a hospital after experiencing West Nile virus symptoms. Public health officials said there was no known connection between the two Santa Clara County residents.

The two Bay Area deaths —one in Contra Costa and one in Santa Clara — are the only deaths thus far in 2024 in California.

About one in five people who become infected with West Nile virus will have symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting in the days after being bitten by a mosquito. One bite can spread WNV.

"It is very important for Contra Costa County residents to dump out any containers holding standing water on their property, use an insect repellent if they are outdoors in the evening or early morning, and report mosquito issues to the district because it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transmit West Nile virus to a person," Steve Schutz, the district's scientific program director, said in a press release.

Contra Costa County residents can report dead birds at 877-968-2473 or online. County residents can request mosquito service for residential property by calling 925- 685-9301 or online.

ALSO SEE: Contra Costa Combats West Nile Virus In Area Of High Detection

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.