MODESTO BEE
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

By KEN CARLSON
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: August 15, 2006, 05:22:59 AM PDT

Officials on Monday reported the second and third confirmed cases of West Nile virus for 2006 in Stanislaus County.
Mosquito abatement officials said they are picking up the virus in common household mosquitoes that were responsible for most of the illnesses last year. Stanislaus had 92 cases in 2005.

Monday's announcement reported a 40-year-old man from Valley Home with West Nile fever and a 61-year-old Modesto man who had donated blood. The 40-year-old was not hospitalized; the Modesto man did not have symptoms.

The donor's blood tested positive in a routine screening and was removed from the blood supply, health officials said.

Dr. John Walker, the county's public health officer, said the positive blood test is a concern because last year the virus showed up in donated blood when people were at highest risk of infection.

"We strongly encourage people to continue donating blood that is vital to the health of our community," Walker said in a news release. "You do not get West Nile virus from donating blood."

The East Side Mosquito Abatement District sprayed in and around Valley Home after finding infected mosquitoes near the town two weeks ago, said Lloyd Douglass, general manager. Valley Home is northwest of Oakdale.

Symptoms of West Nile virus typically emerge three to 14 days after a bite from an infected mosquito. West Nile fever is the milder form of the disease, with symptoms including headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting.

The county's first West Nile case of 2006, reported July 19, wasa19-year-oldModesto woman with the neuroinvasivetype. Symptoms may include high fever, neck stiffness, tremor, convulsions and paralysis.

About 80 percent of people who are infected will have no symptoms.

Officials have noticed more infected Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which become active near homes this time of year. Residents were advised to remove standing water from their back yards and to clean stagnant swimming pools to keep from attracting mosquitoes.

Besides the Valley Home area, the East Side district has found infected mosquitoes at American Avenue near the Stanislaus River east of Salida, and near the San Joaquin River west of Mo-desto.

The Turlock Mosquito Abatement District has found infected mosquitoes at Ustick Road and Whitmore Avenue in south Modesto; at Crows Landing Road and Monte Vista Avenue; near Grayson; and at the San Joaquin River near Newman.

Other evidence of the virus includes infected dead birds scattered throughout the 1,500square-milecounty,officials said.

Statewide, 40 people have been infected with the virus, with two cases confirmed in San Joaquin County.

Bee staff writer Ken Carlsoncan be reached at 578-2321or kcarlson@modbee.com.