(Stockton, CA ) — San Joaquin County Public Health Services announced today that a

74 year-old man and 73 year-old woman both living in the French Camp area of San Joaquin

County have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). These are the second and third

documented WNV infections in humans in San Joaquin County. Both individuals live in the

95231 ZIP code area of San Joaquin County.

The infection was detected in the man when his physician tested him after he developed a

home recovering. He has had no other symptoms and is feeling well at this time. The man does

not recall being bitten by a mosquito and he has not recently traveled outside of San Joaquin

County.

returned home and is feeling well at this time but continues to have some mild fevers. She does

not recall being bitten by a mosquito and has not traveled outside of San Joaquin County

recently.

The first case of WNV in a human in San Joaquin County was reported on September 27.

It was detected in a Manteca man who donated blood to a Sacramento blood bank. The man had

shown no symptoms of illness. There have been 732 human cases of West Nile Virus reported

in California as of Oct. 12, with 19 deaths.

This finding comes on the heels of the announcement of nine additional horses with West

Nile Virus in the county since September 29, bringing the total horse count to 11. WNV positive

horses have been located in Tracy, Manteca, Escalon, Linden, Lockeford, Lodi, Clements, Galt

and Acampo. Other significant WNV activity continues to be found in San Joaquin County,

with 41 dead birds, 2 mosquito pools (Farmington zip code 95325 and Manteca zip code 95337)

and one sentinel chicken flock (Roberts Island) testing positive to date.

WNV is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of a mosquito. Mosquitoes

become infected with the virus when they feed on infected birds. Symptoms of West Nile Virus

News Release, continued – Second & Third Human WNV Cases

may include fever, severe headache, skin rash, enlarged lymph nodes, neck stiffness, muscle

weakness and tremors, disorientation, convulsions and coma. Many people who are infected

with West Nile Virus have no symptoms. A small percent may develop severe infections (e.g.

viral meningitis or encephalitis), that can result in long term or permanent neurological effects

or, in rare cases, even death. The risk of severe disease is highest in people over 50 years old and

those with lowered immune systems.

Individuals can reduce their risk of mosquito-borne diseases by taking these precautions:

ß Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, at dawn and dusk, and

ß When outdoors, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and other protective clothing.

ß Apply insect repellent containing the active ingredient DEET when outdoors, according

ß Exclude mosquitoes from your home with tight fitting screens on doors and windows.

ß Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property that can support mosquito

from WNV will be tested for rabies. Information on symptoms of WNV in horses can be found

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/wnv_info.htm.

Report mosquito infestations to San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District at

209-982-4675 or 1-800-300-4675.

For more information on symptoms of WNV, consult with your health care provider, or go to

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/westnile/qa/symptoms.htm , the web site for the Centers for Disease

Control.

Evidence of West Nile Virus in California was first discovered in August of 2003 near the

Salton Sea in Southern California. Because of the rapid spread of this disease, which was first

discovered during 1999 in New York, San Joaquin County West Nile Virus Taskforce has been

preparing for this situation. The Taskforce consists of the San Joaquin County Mosquito &

Vector Control District, Public Health Services, Environmental Health Department,

Agricultural Commissioner, and Office of Emergency Services.

For information about West Nile Virus, visit the Web sites: www.sjgov/oes,

www.westnile.ca.gov  or www.cdc.gov . For local recorded information call 209-469-8200.

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Connie Cassinetto, Information Officer,

Dale Bishop,M.D. Assistant Health Officer,