You gotta admit, we were all feeling awfully smug here in L.A. a few years ago when the East Coast was freaking out over the West Nile disease.
Not anymore. An Orange County man has officially become California's first West Nile death.
The Fullerton man was diagnosed with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) on June 17 and died a week later.
Writes the L.A. Times: Authorities also revealed that the virus has appeared in eight more California counties during the past few weeks, bringing the total to 16. They expect that the disease, which is transmitted from birds to humans by mosquitoes, will soon reach all corners of the state.
"We are in for a significant West Nile virus season. We need to take the risk very seriously," said Dr. Richard J. Jackson, California's public health officer. "I would be surprised if this is the last death in the state."
The West Nile virus has already been found in mosquitos in Griffith Park; 35 people have been infected so far in Southern California. Hmm, West Nile mosquitos and random mountain lion attacks. I sniff a trend here, folks.
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