- The mosquitoes were collected from a trap in Hacienda Heights.
- As temperatures increase, so do mosquito populations and disease risk, which poses a serious public health threat in our communities, vector control said.
- Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death.
Los Angeles County’s first West Nile virus positive mosquito sample of the season was reported Monday, while vector control in Palm Desert also reported mosquito samples testing positive for WNV and St. Louis Encephalitis.
The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District said the mosquitoes were collected from a trap in Hacienda Heights, where populations of adult mosquitoes and tests groups of adult female mosquitoes are routinely monitored for the presence of WNV and other mosquito-borne viruses.
“This detection should serve as a reminder that WNV is endemic in Los Angeles County,” said Susanne Kluh, director of Scientific-Technical Services at GLACVCD. “As temperatures increase, so do mosquito populations and disease risk, which poses a serious public health threat in our communities.”