West Nile Deaths In LA County Climbs To 16

Insert linkLOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA -- The number of deaths caused by West Nile virus has climb to 16 this week.

There have been 222 cases of West Nile virus reported so far this year with 190 of the patients needing hospitalization, according to the latest report by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. Fourteen new cases were reported this week.

The number of cases already surpassed the total of West Nile virus cases in 2016 when there were 153 reported and six deaths, according to the report.

The virus is most commonly spread through mosquito bites during mosquito season, although some patients will get the virus in November, according to public health officials. About one in five people will get a fever, while one in 150 people could die from the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

As of Oct. 24, there 1,622 cases of West Nile virus in the U.S., according to the CDC.

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