By KEN CARLSON
BEE STAFF WRITER
MODESTO BEE
Original Article

By DAVID CHIRCOP
MERCED SUN-STAR

Last Updated: July 16, 2005, 04:43:31 AM PDT

MERCED — A man living south of Merced tested positive for West Nile virus this week, becoming Merced County's first confirmed human case this year.
County health officials say detection of the disease — found while donated blood was being screened — underscores the need for people to reduce their risk of the mosquito-borne virus by avoiding being bitten.

While the vast majority of people infected with West Nile never develop symptoms, experts say people 50 and older or with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk of falling ill.

"Take precautions," said Bruce Bondi, assistant manager with the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District. "The virus seems to do really well when the weather gets hot."

The Merced County Health Department was alerted to the case by a blood bank screening facility. The infected man gave blood July 8.

In addition to the human incident, one mosquito pool and 24 birds have tested positive for the virus this year in Merced County. Last year, one person, three horses and 29 birds tested positive for West Nile countywide.

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