A man living in the San Gabriel Valley has died of West Nile virus, County health officials said Tuesday.
This is the first death of the 2015 season, according to a statement. The patient was an elderly man who had pre-existing health conditions and was hospitalized in late August. He died this month.
So far this year, 18 West Nile infections have been reported in Los Angeles County, the statement said.
In 2014, 218 human infections of the virus were reported, the second highest count documented in the county since 2004. Seven people died of the virus last year, according to county data.
West Nile is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus.
Symptoms include fever, headache and body aches.
People with pre-existing conditions and those older than 50 have the highest risk of coming down with severe disease.
Most people who become infected do not show symptoms of the illness, but some may become ill 3-14 days after being bit.
“Mosquitoes are the primary pathway to human infection with West Nile virus and we are entering the period of increased transmission,” county Interim Health Officer Jeffrey Gunzenhauser said in the statement.
County health officials are encouraging residents to take precautions and avoid mosquito bites by applying insect repellent when outside and getting rid of pools of stagnant water.
As of Sept. 4, West Nile has been detected in 118 mosquito collection sites, 12 dead birds and 6 chickens across the county, officials said.
