Overview
- The patient, a San Fernando Valley resident, died after hospitalization for severe neurological illness linked to the virus.
- County officials report 14 documented human infections this year, excluding Pasadena and Long Beach, with about half in the San Fernando Valley.
- Los Angeles County averages roughly 56 reported cases annually in recent years, a count believed to understate true infections because many go unrecognized.
- Researchers say drought can concentrate infected birds and mosquitoes at limited water sources, potentially heightening transmission risk in dry parts of the Valley.
- Public guidance includes using EPA-registered repellents such as DEET or picaridin, eliminating standing water, and maintaining window and door screens as transmission typically peaks through November.