From CBS Los Angeles
September 30, 2020
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Spreading diseases such as malaria, West Nile and Zika, mosquitoes are among the deadliest animals in the world.
To date, California officials have reported a total of 91 West Nile virus cases in people statewide. Of those, L.A. County Public Health said it has identified 27 local cases.
West Nile virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S.
Mosquito season is typically from March to late October or early November, and there are currently no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat the disease in people.
Most people infected with West Nile virus do not feel sick, but one in five people experience a fever and other symptoms, the CDC says.
About one out of 150 infected people develop serious and sometimes deadly reactions to the disease, according to health experts.