96-Year-Old Woman Diagnosed
POSTED: 3:25 pm PDT July 13, 2007
UPDATED: 6:02 pm PDT July 13, 2007
BAKERSFIELD -- A 96-year-old Bakersfield woman died Wednesday from complications of West Nile virus, the Kern County Department of Public Health announced today.
The unidentified woman is the first person in California to die from West Nile this year.
West Nile is transmitted to humans, birds and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. The elderly and those in frail health are the most susceptible to the virus, according to health department officials.
Health officials are urging all residents to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes which are carriers of the disease:
Eliminate all sources of stagnant or standing water where mosquitoes can breed
Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active
When outdoors, wear long sleeves and long pants whenever possible
Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaradin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions
Make sure the doors and windows in your home have tight fitting screens with no holes or tears
Contact your mosquito abatement district if there is a significant mosquito problem where you live or work
Report any ill or dead birds and squirrels
Consult veterinarians to properly vaccinate horses
Copyright 2007 by TurnTo23.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment