Who would have thought that such a little insect, the mosquito, could turn into the most dangerous enemy of people?

People all around the country are urged to take precautions when it comes to mosquitoes especially that the risk of West Nile infection is nearly five times higher than in previous years. In 2004, Southern California experienced 710 human West Nile Virus cases and 21 people have died.

So far, there have been 12 cases of West Nile infections in Los Angeles County, nine in Orange County and 2 in San Diego County. Also, 566 dead birds samples and 316 mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile, the California Health Department reported.

West Nile season starts in April and lasts until September, reaching its highest point in mid-August, when authorities fear an outbreak that would last until October. Worse than this is the fact that this year’s infections are mostly caused by the most virulent strain, which is known to affect the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system, raising the risk of leaving people imperiled once the infection goes away.

Therefore, people should be all aware of the fact that a simple mosquito bite could turn into something fatal. So preventing those bites should be a top priority. For example, you can start with eliminating standing waters around your house, places known to benefit mosquito growing. Another way to prevent infection is to limit the amount of time spent outside once the dark sets in. Alternatively, if you really have to spend time outside doing things around the house, you should use insect repellent containing permethrin or DEET on top of clothing and wear long sleeves and pants.

However, if you experiences fever, headache, chills, weakness and drowsiness, the best thing you could do is to contact a physician and tell him/her about these symptoms. A simple test blood can detect the presence of the virus and then you can receive the adequate treatment to prevent complications.

Of major concern are the elderly, as their immune system is weakened and could experience severe complications once infected. However, the warning is not only for them. Everyone should take precautions against the infection.