.jpg "A death in California from West Nile virus.")
A 72-year old woman from Buena Park, California likely died from a mosquito bite which led to complications from a West Nile virus infection, health authorities report.
It is the first fatality from West Nile in Orange County in four years. So far this year, 30 cases of West Nile have been reported in the Orange County area of Southern California.
At the height of human infection there in 2004, 710 contracted the virus and 21 died.
Tests confirmed the woman died from neuroinvasive disease, which can result from the virus and is the most serious form of the disease. Health authorities report the incidents are on the rise and is usually found in people over the age of 50.
No one knows why there are more cases of the neurological form so far this year. Neuroinvasive disease can affect up to 1 in 150 infected with the West Nile virus and can include symptoms such as muscle weakness, convulsions and paralysis
About one in five people infected develop flu-like symptoms which include headache, fever, body aches and occasionally a skin rash as well as swollen lymph glands. The symptoms can last several weeks.
In rare cases, symptoms can escalate to encephalitis, meningitis and death.
The West Nile virus is transferred by mosquitoes that feed on birds carrying the virus in their blood.
One of the signs of West Nile infections is the high number of dead infected birds being found in Southern California. Some believe the high number of abandoned, foreclosed homes with swimming pools serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
So far in California, 112 cases of human West Nile have been confirmed with August and October being the peak time for infections. California also reports the highest number of cases of encephalitis and meningitis resulting from West Nile virus.
There have been three deaths nationwide, as tracked by the CDC.
Mosquitoes are lured by the carbon dioxide you exhale, body heat, lactic acid and hexanoic acid you emit. And there are some people who are more attractive to mosquitoes than others.
So how to avoid them? Don’t go out at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are heavies. Treat clothing with permethrin such as REI and Adventure 16. Wear clothes that cover as much skin as you can. While the repellant DEET works best, but the CDC recommends using the lowest concentration possible because of concerns about safety, that’s under 30 percent. (EPA)
DEET has been linked to brain cell death and behavior changes in rate. Some people don’t like its odor and the Environmental Protection Agency says DEET has been linked to seizures in children. Its use is not advised for children under two months of age and pregnant women. Manufacturers advise against using DEET under clothing or on broken skin.
It is found to have toxicity to coldwater fish such as rainbow trout and tilapia.
Research on DEET is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Picaridin is another synthetic repellent and the active ingredient in Cutter Advanced Sport.
But researchers are looking at safer, more natural alternatives to the synthetics. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is found in both Repel and Cutter sprays.
Other herbs such as capnip, celery, geraniums, soybeans and tomatoes also repel bugs as do plant-based ingredients including geraniol and soybeans as well as citronella.
The makers believe mosquito’s sense of smell is confused into thinking that you are a plant and not a human.
Regarding safe repellant use –
- do not use them on pets unless stated they are for pets
- always follow the instructions on the product label
- Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label)
- Do not use repellents under clothing
- Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin
- Do not apply to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays, do not spray directly on face—spray on hands first and then apply to face
- Do not allow children to handle the product #