Officials To Alert Valley Glen Residents Of Elevated West Nile Threat

VALLEY GLEN (CBSLA.com) — Vector Control officials will conduct a door-to-door campaign Thursday in Valley Glen to alert residents about an elevated West Nile threat in the area.

The campaign, which will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., seeks to expand control and surveillance operations in neighborhoods, according to officials with the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

So far this year, six mosquito samples collected in the Valley Glen area have tested positive for WNV.

"Our surveillance data indicates that approximately 52 out of every 1,000 mosquitoes are infected with West Nile virus," Susanne Kluh, GLACVCD Director of Scientific-Technical Services, said.

West Nile virus is transmitted to people and animals if they are bitten by an infected mosquito.

There is no cure.

One in five persons infected with WNV will exhibit symptoms that usually occur between five and 15 days and can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash.

These symptoms can last for several weeks or months.

One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death.

For more information, please contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at (562)944-9656 or visit www.glacvcd.org.