As West Nile Claims Another Life, State Plans Offensive

A 53-year-old Glenn County man has died after a six-month battle with West Nile virus, the second human fatality attributed to the virus in Northern California and the 28th statewide since July, health officials said.

Daniel Merkes died March 19 of complications, including paralysis, from the mosquito-borne virus, officials said. Merkes’ passing will be listed as a 2004 virus-related fatality because he was infected last year, when 27 other similar deaths were reported.

So far this year, one human case of the disease has been confirmed in Los Angeles County, though just when the victim contracted the virus is unclear, health officials said. That victim is recovering.

In addition, dead birds have tested positive for the disease in 19 counties, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange.

The virus, which is spread by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds, was first detected on the East Coast in 1999.

Concerned about the human toll last year and heavy winter rains, state health officials plan to spend $2 million this year on mosquito abatement and other programs to guard against the disease.

“We know West Nile is here,” said Robert Miller, spokesman for the state Department of Health Services. “We’ve worked with local control agencies to track where the disease is and where it shows up.”

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, including wetlands, potted plants, old tires and poorly maintained swimming pools.

According to state health officials, 830 Californians last year were found to be infected with the virus.

Most people who become infected experience only mild flu-like symptoms, including headaches, fever, rash and general weakness. Less than 1% of victims die. The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable.

Nip Boyes, director of the Glenn County Health Department’s virus prevention program, said health officials from neighboring counties have begun meeting monthly to discuss how to better educate those in high-risk groups.

“We need to be hitting these people hard,” he said.

Boyes pointed out that the colder climate in Northern California made it more difficult for mosquitoes to breed. He said the winter frost suffocates the insect’s larvae.

“We really looked forward to first frost,” Boyes said. “We knew we were going to put a big dent in the mosquito population.”

He said people should wear long-sleeved clothing and use insect repellent with DEET when outdoors, particularly at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

Laurene Mascola, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, said the season’s heavy rains have flushed some old mosquito breeding grounds, such as sewer drains, but that new pockets of standing water exist.

“There are places where there’s water where there has never been water before,” Mascola said. “The weather has been cool.... Not all the water is evaporating.”

Birds are among the chief carriers and victims of the virus, which is also found in horses and chickens, she said. Last year, tens of thousands of birds -- mostly crows, jays and ravens -- are believed to have died from the virus in California, according to state officials.

“We haven’t seen crows dropping out of the sky yet,” Mascola said. “Last year people would just call and say ‘Gosh, they’re just falling.’ ”