From Lodi News
July 18, 2018
San Joaquin County has seen its first human case of West Nile virus for 2018, according to Public Health Services.
A 51-year-old man living in Stockton was the first to be diagnosed this year and reportedly developed a mild form of the infection, and recovered fully without medical intervention.
Dr. Gordon Arakawa, San Joaquin County assistant public health officer, said the infected man recalls being bitten by mosquitoes recently, but since he works outdoors throughout the Central Valley, he does not know whether or not he was bitten within San Joaquin County.
The majority of people who become infected by the virus do not report any symptoms, Arakawa said.
If symptoms do develop, they usually show 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, Arakawa said.
Roughly 19 percent of people may develop symptoms such as headaches, fevers, body aches and skin rashes.
However, one percent can develop a serious neurologic illness characterized by severe headaches, very high fevers, neck stiffness, disorientation, convulsions and even paralysis, Arakawa said.