Santa Clara County health officials confirmed Wednesday that the county had logged the first two human cases of West Nile virus this year, including a person who had died in August.
The person who died was an immunocompromised adult who died this month after experiencing symptoms, officials said in a news release Wednesday. The second person was an adult who was hospitalized, but is now recovering in their home.
The announcement comes after Contra Costa County announced the county’s first death since 2006 from West Nile virus.
In both cases, county officials could not determine if the infections were contracted locally or elsewhere.
The most recent reports of West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes were found in several ZIP codes throughout San Jose and Milpitas. The county has been conducting pesticide treatments in those areas to reduce their spread.
West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, and while most people may quickly recover with mild or no symptoms, elderly people or people with certain medical conditions are at risk of developing more severe symptoms and complications related to them. Some symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and in severe cases, neurological symptoms or death.
The county advised residents to reduce the risk of West Nile virus by draining standing water, cleaning areas where water might collect, screening windows and doors and placing mosquitofish in unused artificial bodies of water.
