An Orange County child tested positive of the West Nile virus, marking the county's first confirmed human infection this year.

The child's case was confirmed by health officials this week. West Nile is usually transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.

The child's name, age, and city of residence were not disclosed by officials to protect their identity. Orange County Health Care Agency said Monday that the child is in the hospital but is recovering, Los Angeles Times reported.

Orange County officials said seven people in total had contracted the West Nile virus this year.

According to county officials, the child was diagnosed with the virus last week. But they didn't say when the young California resident was believed to have been infected with the disease.

West Nile in California

In a statement, acting county health officer Dr. Clayton Chau said the West Nile is endemic to Orange County and happens every year. It is most active during the summer months and continues into the fall.

Mosquitoes get infected with the virus when they feed on infected birds, which can infect humans.

Chau advised people to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible to avoid getting infected with the virus.

Officials also told residents to get rid of areas where the bugs can spread. The best way to do this is by emptying standing water sources and using the right insect repellents.

People are also told to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when going out and making sure doors and window screens are secure when staying in.

In all of California, there have been ten other cases reported so far this year, said an NBC Los Angelesarticle. Eight of these cases are in Stanislaus County, and the others are from Los Angeles and Madera counties, as per the latest figures from California Department of Public Health.

West Nile was first found in California in 2003. Last month, mosquito samples that were collected in Anaheim, Cypress, and Garden Grove saw signs of the virus, as did a dead bird in Irvine.

What are the symptoms?

In 2019, local health officials reported seven cases and one death from the West Nile virus.

Most patients who come in contact with the virus don't experience symptoms from the infection. However, there is a one in five chance that people will develop a fever if they get the West Nile virus, reported Orange County Register.

Some may also suffer from headaches, body aches, nausea, fatigue, and rashes.

Other severe symptoms of West Nile include muscle weakness, neck stiffness, confusion, and paralysis.

In a Sun Sentinel report, doctors warned that West Nile and Dengue symptoms could be similar in its early stages. Some symptoms also come close to those of COVID-19.

Fever, body aches, and rashes usually come early on. But West Nile doesn't make a person have difficulty breathing, unlike COVID-19.

Are West Nile deaths common?

Deaths related to West Nile are rare and are also rare among children. The first recorded human case of West Nile took place just last year, in a Tustin woman in her 50s.

In October, a 67-year-old man died from West Nile virus encephalitis.

According to health data, just 19 people who are aged below 18 have tested positive of the virus over the past 15 years. There have been 727 local cases since 2003.

An alert on increased mosquito activity has been issued in the county last June.

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