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First Human Case Of West Nile Virus Confirmed In Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Health Officer has confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus in Los Angeles County for the 2009 season. The case is a blood donor from the Antelope Valley who donated blood in early June. The person does not show any symptoms (asymptomatic), and is feeling well. The donated blood was not used. Health officials are determining where the patient may have contracted the virus. T his is the first documented human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in California.

People should take precautions to avoid mosquitoes, as that is the primary way this disease is transmitted. Mosquitoes obtain the virus by feeding on infected wild birds, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. West Nile Virus can appear anywhere in Los Angeles County or around the state, and we urge residents to get rid of pools of stagnant water around their homes, where mosquitoes breed, and to use a repellant containing DEET, or another approved repellent, when outdoors in mosquito-prone areas, especially around dawn or dusk.

As of June 19th in Los Angeles County, Public Health and the mosquito abatement districts have detected WNV in five dead birds, two mosquito pools, and three sentinel chickens. In past seasons, most of the infected birds and positive mosquitoes have been found in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and East Los Angeles County areas.

Exposure to West Nile Virus

WNV is spread from humans through the bite of an infected mosquito; mosquitoes can become infected by biting a bird that carries the virus. Most mosquitoes do not carry the virus and most people bitten by a mosquito have not been exposed to the virus. The virus is not spread through person-to-person contact, or directly from birds to humans.

In most cases, people who are infected with West Nile Virus never become sick, or have only very mild symptoms that include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, and a mild skin rash. Symptoms of West Nile Virus could appear within three to 12 days after infection. Fortunately, fewer than one in 150 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito become severely ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In these rare cases, the virus can cause encephalitis and death. The elderly are most at risk for severe cases of the disease. There is no specific treatment for West Nile Virus. However, individuals with severe symptoms may be hospitalized.

Preventive Measures

People can decrease their risk of infection by following these recommendations:

Avoid mosquito-infested areas at dawn and dusk.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.

Repellants containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of eucalyptus, when used as labeled, are effective defenses against mosquitoes.

Check your window screens for holes.

Do not allow water to collect and stagnate in old tires, flowerpots, swimming pools, birdbaths, pet bowls, or other containers. These are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Clean and chlorinate swimming pools; drain water from pool covers.

Stock garden ponds with goldfish or other mosquito-eating fish. These eat mosquito eggs and larvae.

Empty and wash birdbaths and wading pools weekly.

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department has established a toll-free information line that will provide callers with updated information on West Nile Virus within the county. Call 800-975-4448.

If a recently dead bird (less than 24 hours) is found, the public is encouraged to report this by calling 877-747-2243.

If residents see a green pool or stagnant swimming pool at a home, please report this to Public Health’s Environmental Health Bureau at 626-430-5200.

Where to call with questions about mosquitoes:

Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District: (562) 944-9656

Los Angeles County West Vector Control District: (310) 915-7370

San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District: (626) 814-9466

Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District: (661) 942-2917

Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District: (310) 639-7375

Pasadena City Health Department: (626) 744-6004

City of Long Beach Vector Control Program: (562) 570-4132

LA County Celebrates 25 Years Of Trauma Services

Los Angeles County is unveiling a new emergency mass notification system to alert residents and businesses by phone, text, and e-mail of emergencies in their area, Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors announced today.

Called Alert LA County, the system will allow the Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center to activate local and regional alerts by drawing the boundaries of the area to be notified on a computer map. Recorded and written alerts will provide information on the nature of the emergency and necessary actions, such as evacuations. The system is so precise it will allow the exclusion of a single home, useful in situations involving hostages or crimes in progress.

The County’s 7.1 million land-line phone numbers are programmed into the mass notification system, but the public must register Voice over IP lines, cell phones and e-mail addresses. The website http://alert.lacounty.gov may be used to register your cell phone number, Voice over IP phone number, and e-mail address with the Emergency Mass Notification System. Registration of this information can be done on the County’s Alert lacounty.gov website. Each telephone number and e-mail can be associated with only one street address.

If a call is picked up by an answering machine when an alert is being issued, a recorded message will be left. If the number is busy or does not answer, the number will be redialed twice. The system has the ability to detect and communicate with telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTY/TDD).

The Alert LA County system project will cost $1.97 million cost over five years, which includes the purchase of the 911 data from the local telephone companies. Land-line numbers will be refreshed on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy and numbers registered on the website will be added to the database on a nightly basis.

West Covina Hospital Receives Surrendered Newborn

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, is pleased to announce that a baby girl was safely surrendered recently at a hospital in the City of West Covina.

The newborn female was safely surrendered on June 16 and is reported to be in good health. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will eventually be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

I want to thank this newborn’s mother for doing the right thing, said Supervisor Knabe. The Safe Surrender Program continues to protect babies from abandonment and give mothers a safe, secure, and anonymous way to get their child into safe hands.

This is the third Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2009 and the 72nd Safe Surrender since the program began eight years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

County Launches Emergency Notification System

Los Angeles County is unveiling a new emergency mass notification system to alert residents and businesses by phone, text, and e-mail of emergencies in their area, Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors announced today.

Called Alert LA County, the system will allow the Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center to activate local and regional alerts by drawing the boundaries of the area to be notified on a computer map. Recorded and written alerts will provide information on the nature of the emergency and necessary actions, such as evacuations. The system is so precise it will allow the exclusion of a single home, useful in situations involving hostages or crimes in progress.

The County’s 7.1 million land-line phone numbers are programmed into the mass notification system, but the public must register Voice over IP lines, cell phones and e-mail addresses. The website http://alert.lacounty.gov may be used to register your cell phone number, Voice over IP phone number, and e-mail address with the Emergency Mass Notification System. Registration of this information can be done on the County’s Alert.lacounty.gov website. Each telephone number and e-mail can be associated with only one street address.

If a call is picked up by an answering machine when an alert is being issued, a recorded message will be left. If the number is busy or does not answer, the number will be redialed twice. The system has the ability to detect and communicate with telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTY/TDD).

The Alert LA County system project will cost $1.97 million cost over five years, which includes the purchase of the 911 data from the local telephone companies. Land-line numbers will be refreshed on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy and numbers registered on the website will be added to the database on a nightly basis.

Marina del Rey Waterbus Cruises Into Summer Service

The Marina del Rey WaterBus summer weekend service begins Friday, June 26th through September 7th. Riders can access the WaterBus by heading to any boarding location where a dock attendant will hail the next available WaterBus.

WaterBus service is available Fridays 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Saturdays 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Holiday WaterBus service is available for the 4th of July, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m., and Labor Day, September 7 from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

There are seven Marina boarding locations including Fisherman’s Village at 13755 Fiji Way; Burton Chace Park at 13650 Mindanao Way; Waterfront Walk/Fire Station #110 at 4433 Admiralty Way; Mother’s Beach at 4101 Admiralty Way; Dolphin Marina at 13900 Panay Way, Dock Gate #C-200; Esprit I at 13900 Marquesas Way, Dock Gate #B-602 and Marina Harbor at 14028 Tahiti Way, Dock Gate #A-2200. Tickets are available at each boarding location for $1.00 per person, one-way. Season passes are available for purchase at the Fisherman’s Village location for $30.00.

All boarding locations are fully ADA compliant except Fisherman’s Village and parking is available at Los Angeles County lots located throughout Marina del Rey for a minimal fee.

WaterBus service will operate 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. during the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts on July 9 and 23, as well as, August 6 and 20 for concertgoers who prefer water transportation to and from the concerts.

Special WaterBus service is available for movie nights in Burton Chace Park on Thursday nights, July 30 and August 13 from 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., and Saturday nights, August 8 and August 22, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

In addition to WaterBus service, the free, clean fuel, landside Beach Shuttles will circulate between Playa Vista, Marina del Rey and the Venice Beach Pier on summer weekends and during the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series.

Click here to visit the Beaches and Harbors website and download a WaterBus schedule.

Renovation And Expansion Of San Pedro Service Center Moves Forward

The renovation and expansion of the San Pedro Service Center moved a step closer to beginning construction today as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved putting the project out for contracting bids.

The construction project will bring the San Pedro Service Center compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The renovation of existing restrooms includes the installation of additional stalls and other upgrades. The reconfiguration of the existing senior citizens room includes the installation of a kitchenette, storage area, and two additional single-unit restrooms. The addition to the northeast side of the building will include an 800-square-foot multipurpose room. A 1,350-square-foot addition to the southeast side of the building will provide two daycare classrooms with toilets, storage areas, and a corridor.

The total budget for the project is $2,480,000, which will be fully funded by Fourth Supervisorial District Capital Improvement funds. The costs for actual construction are expected to be $1,407,000, with the remainder going towards equipment, plus engineering and design costs. Construction bids are due back from potential contractors on July 14, 2009.

The San Pedro Community and Senior Services Center, which opened its doors in 1972, has continued to expand its services over the years, while receiving few upgrades. The center, located at 769 West Third Street in San Pedro, currently provides a wide array of services to the community, ranging from a senior meals program, child care services, computer and citizenship classes, food pantry, toy loan center, and more.

Knabe Announces Economic Stimulus Funded Traffic Signal Project In Marina Del Rey

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced approval of a $181,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded traffic signal installation project to reduce traffic congestion and increase pedestrian safety in the unincorporated community of Marina del Rey. This is one of the first projects in Southern California to be funded under President Obama’s economic stimulus funding program.

The intersection where the new traffic signals will be installed is located at Admiralty Way at Marina City Club Drive in Marina del Rey. This project is one of 19 transportation infrastructure projects that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will be delivering throughout the County using over $46 million of ARRA funds. This project will be advertised for construction bids later this month.

ARRA is intended to not only save existing jobs and create new ones, but also to improve our local infrastructure with projects exactly like this one, said Supervisor Knabe. We will be using these stimulus funds not to grow government, but instead to grow our local businesses that we will be contracting with to complete these projects.

Public Works is actively seeking small businesses and community based enterprises to bid on contracts for this and future ARRA Stimulus projects. County businesses seeking more information regarding this and future ARRA Stimulus projects may visit the Public Works Business Outreach website at: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/PRG/business

Anti-Gang Program Will Continue In The Cities Of Bellflower And Paramount

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that the Board of Supervisors has authorized two separate one-year agreements between the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Cities of Bellflower and Paramount for the continuance of a successful gang abatement program in the two cities.

The Strategies Against Gang Environments (SAGE) Program decreases street gang violence and narcotics-related activities by utilizing civil injunctions and other procedures to enhance a city’s efforts to reduce gang violence and graffiti problems. The program also aims to divert potentially dangerous gang activity into more constructive behavior within the community.

Under the terms of the agreements, one full-time Deputy District Attorney will be maintained within each of the cities. The assigned Deputy District Attorneys will also pursue civil nuisance abatement actions, and will advise and work with city law enforcement officers, community leaders, and other officials to develop a multifaceted strategy for improving public safety.

The SAGE program is an outstanding program that has really benefited cities throughout the County, said Supervisor Knabe. I am proud that, once again, the District Attorney’s Office is partnering together with our cities to combat gang violence. We have lost too many residents to senseless violence, and I am pleased that our cities are using this program to take back our streets.

County Selects Contractor For Termino Avenue Storm Drain Project In Long Beach

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced Board approval today of a $22,640,000 contract with W. A. Rasic Construction Company, Inc., to construct the Termino Avenue Storm Drain project in the City of Long Beach.

The Termino Avenue Storm Drain Project will enhance pedestrian and vehicular safety throughout the project area and includes measures to protect the quality of stormwater runoff and surface waters. Project components include: construction of a new underground storm drain system to provide relief from localized flooding during storms, installation of trash excluder screens and filtration systems at catch basins, construction of a low-flow diversion system to protect water quality, and relocation of waterlines.

The majority of project costs will be financed with Los Angeles County Flood Control District funds, with water quality protection measures funded by the City of Long Beach.

Project managers from the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works expect construction to begin October 2009 near Marine Stadium. The project is slated for completion by November 2011. During construction, Appian Way, Nieto Avenue, Colorado Street, Park Avenue, 8th Street, Mayfield Street, and 11th Street near the storm drain alignment may be closed to through traffic. Sixth Street may be closed to through traffic during construction hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Local access will be permitted at all times.

Knabe Offers $10,000 Reward For Information Related To The Rape And Robbery Of An Elderly Blind Woman

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors once again unanimously approved a $50,000 reward today for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Emigdio Preciado, the primary suspect in the shooting of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap. The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau requested that the Board re-establish the $50,000 reward to prompt individuals to come forward and provide information as to the whereabouts of the suspect.

On September 5, 2000, Deputy Schaap was shot and injured while on routine patrol in Whittier with his partner, Deputy David Timberlake. While attempting to stop a van for a vehicle code violation, the alleged assailants opened fire with an assault rifle from inside the van. Multiple rounds were fired, one of which struck Schaap in the head. The bullet fragments were removed at St. Francis Medical Center, and Schaap was released and home with his family by Thanksgiving Day. A first suspect has already been apprehended, but the second suspect, Emigdio Preciado, is still at large and wanted for attempted murder. Preciado is an adult male Hispanic presumed to be in Mexico and considered armed and dangerous.

By again renewing this $50,000 reward, this Board intends to send a clear message that we support our deputies 100 percent and that this sort of egregious assault will not be tolerated, said Supervisor Knabe. If this reward serves to bring Deputy Schaap’s attacker to justice, I consider it money well spent.

Information on the whereabouts of Preciado or any other information related to this case should be directed to any local law enforcement office or to the Homicide Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, at (323) 890-5500.