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Orange County man dies after contracting West Nile virus, family says
ABC7 Los Angeles • • health
Key Points:
- Daniel Clavel, a 61-year-old man from Orange County, died after contracting West Nile virus, following weeks in intensive care; his family hopes his story raises awareness about the disease's risks.
- Orange County is experiencing a record number of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus, with 757 positive samples detected this year, and Anaheim having the highest concentration at 165 positive samples.
- Health officials urge residents to take precautions such as wearing insect repellent, eliminating standing water, and avoiding outdoor exposure during peak mosquito activity at dusk and dawn.
- West Nile virus symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, rash, and in severe cases, central nervous system involvement; there are no vaccines or specific treatments currently available.
- The Orange County Health Care Agency is investigating Clavel's death amid a significant rise in human West Nile virus cases this year, with 21 reported cases compared to just one during the same period last year.
