We might be far from Egypt, but West Nile Virus is present in Los Angeles County. Here are some things you can do to keep it away from you.

West Nile virus is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no cure for West Nile virus. One in five persons infected with West Nile virus will exhibit symptoms. Symptoms 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 to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus will become extremely ill. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) offers a variety of digital content on our website’s Resources page. Please assist us in providing this information to people you know.

GLACVCD encourages residents to take the following safety precautions to protect against mosquito-borne diseases:

• Eliminate or manage all sources of standing water to discourage mosquito breeding every week. The work residents do now will make a big difference.
• If you are outdoors when mosquitoes are biting, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and use an insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, and Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD). Always apply according to label instructions.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
• Contact us at 562-944-9656 or visit glacvcd.org if there is a significant problem or potential mosquito breeding source where you live or work.