State of emergency declared over West Nile

BY FELIX DOLIGOSA, Californian staff writer
e-mail: fdoligosa@bakersfield.com | Wednesday, Aug 1 2007 10:05 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Aug 1 2007 10:07 PM

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to declare a state of emergency today for Kern County after West Nile virus killed two people in Kern County and have infected 56 others statewide.

"I agree that there is a need to address this issue to protect our fellow Californians against an epidemic," Schwarzenegger wrote in a letter to state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Bakersfield.

Schwarzenegger also declared a state of emergency for Colusa and San Joaquin counties. The counties each recorded one death from the virus this year.

Florez asked for a minimum of $48 million in state money to battle West Nile virus. Schwarzenegger's staff is working with the Department of Public Health and staff at vector control to determine the needed resources.

"Please rest assured that I will make available as much funding as immediately needed to combat this virus at the local level," Schwarzenegger said.

So far this year, Kern County has 38 West Nile Virus cases. There are 18 cases in the rest of the state.

Kern County recorded 51 cases in 2006, the most in California.

"We need to get our local agencies the tools they need to protect our most vulnerable citizens and educate the public on steps they can take to help protect themselves from West Nile," Florez said in a written statement.

The virus can be transmitted through an infected mosquito.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, body aches and rashes. Some people who are infected with the virus show no symptoms.

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