(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – Yuba County Public Health has confirmed California’s first human case of West Nile virus infection, in Yuba County.

A press release notes that human infections fall within three categories:

• 80% have no symptoms
• 20% experience mild to moderate fever with fatigue & body aches
• Less than 1% become severely ill with neurological complications including encephalitis or meningitis

The release does not say what category the current Yuba County infection falls in to.

In a Facebook post, Stephen Abshier, District Manager for Sutter-Yuba Mosquito and Vector Control Diostrict notes that “Residents need to remain vigilant in protecting themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes,… Residents should inspect their yards for anything holding water. Regular landscape irrigation or unseasonable rainscan provide mosquitoes with good breeding habitat. Simply draining or dumping water will prevent new mosquito breeding.”

The post goes on to say “The best way to prevent West Nile virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites. We want to remind everyone to stay protected by wearing long pants and long sleeves, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquito activity is high, and by wearing an effective mosquito repellent,” said Bi-County Public Health Officer, Dr. Phuong Luu.