REGION: Two more human cases of West Nile virus confirmed

By SARAH GORDON - Staff Writer | Thursday, July 31, 2008 6:13 PM PDT ∞

NORTH COUNTY ---- Two North County residents have been infected with West Nile virus, raising to three the number of people in the county with the disease this year, public health officials announced Thursday.

Also Thursday, the county mailed letters to warn Del Mar residents who live within a half-mile of where a group of trapped mosquitoes tested positive for the virus, officials said. Those mosquitoes were found near the Los Penasquitos Lagoon on the north side of Torrey Pines State Reserve.

Women from Carlsbad and Del Mar fell ill with the virus in July, said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, a deputy public health officer with the county. Both women are recuperating at home after being hospitalized, he said.

The 38-year-old Carlsbad woman was hospitalized in early July with meningitis after developing symptoms consistent with West Nile virus, Sidelinger said.

The 58-year-old Del Mar woman was also hospitalized with meningitis in mid-July.

Officials originally believed the Del Mar woman contacted the virus outside of California, but now believe she also had significant local exposure, Sidelinger said.

Further information about the West Nile patients was not released.

On July 22, a 24-year-old San Diego man was confirmed to have West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is normally a bird disease, but it can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Most people infected with the virus do not develop any symptoms, but about one in five will develop flulike symptoms.

In rare cases, people with the virus can develop dangerous brain swelling.

With evidence of an active virus coming earlier than expected, health officials worry that there will be additional human cases and are urging people to protect themselves against mosquito bites by using insect repellent and protective clothing when outdoors.

In 2007, 15 human cases of locally acquired West Nile virus were reported, all in late August, September and October, officials said.

So far, 154 dead birds have tested positive for the virus this year. County officials have found five mosquito groups with the virus, including three in Oceanside and the most recent one near Del Mar.

For more information or to report dead birds, call the county's West Nile virus information line at (888) 551-INFO or visit www.SDFighttheBite.com.

Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 740-3517 or sgordon@nctimes.com.