Mosquitos that have been infected with West Nile Virus has been confirmed in Palm Desert, which was the first detection of the virus in Riverside County this year. Officials with the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, these infected mosquitos were collected from two traps, one in Shadow Mountain Folg Club on Portola Avenue and the other near Highway 74 and Mesa View Drive. According to a district spokesperson, Tammy Gordon,
"Just one bite from an infected mosquito can make a person sick. We need everyone to cover up and use repellent at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are the most active."
There's currently no reported human cases of West Nile virus in California. According to Vector control and county health officials, one in 150 people infected will require hospitalization as the symptoms are severe including: high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death. Those with compromised immune systems and elders are at a greater risk. Make sure to stay covered up and spray mosquito repellent as mosquito season in Southern California is generally from May to October.
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