Fresno County says first case of West Nile virus has been confirmed

Fresno County health officials said Tuesday a local hospital has confirmed a patient had West Nile virus.

It is the first human case of the virus in Fresno County this year.

The patient, a middle-aged man, showed up at the hospital with chills, fever and muscle pain, said Leticia Berber, a health educator at the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

It’s unknown if the man remains in the hospital, she said. His name was not released because of privacy laws.

In California, there have been 108 confirmed cases of the virus in 2015. It is peak season for West Nile virus, and infected mosquitoes continue to be widespread, Berber said. “And with this rain, we’ll have those puddles left over, and that could be a potential breeding ground for these mosquitoes,” she said.

“Confirmation of this case is a strong reminder that everyone should take this disease seriously and should also take every precaution to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” said Dr. Ken Bird, Fresno County’s health officer.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, people should apply insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 according to label instructions. And use repellent, especially in the early morning and in the evening, when mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active.

Other measures people can take to reduce mosquito bites: Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes; repair or replace screens that have holes; and eliminate standing water and containers that can hold water from around the home.

People should contact mosquito abatement districts to report poorly maintained swimming pools, or to get free mosquito fish for pools, backyard ponds or horse troughs from mosquito abatement districts.

For more information, call 559-268-6565 or visit the Fresno County Department of Public Health to download a “Heard the Buzzzzz?” brochure.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Fresno County says first case of West Nile virus has been confirmed."