West Nile Virus

Josh Kleinbaum Hoping to prevent deadly mosquito bites, Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) is biting into a contentious budget debate. Frommer asked members of the budget conference committee, which is trying to hammer out a deal over the state budget, to make two changes to the budget to help control the spread of the West Nile virus. Frommer asked the committee to give $1 million to the state's Department of Health Services to develop a strategic plan for surveillance, prevention and control of the West Nile virus, and to restore $12 million of proposed cuts to vector control districts throughout the state.

Robert Chacon Starting Sunday, Los Angeles County will begin providing mosquito-control services in La Canada Flintridge at no cost to the city to step up efforts to combat the potentially deadly West Nile virus. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services will provide the service until June 30. Greater Los Angeles Mosquito and Vector Control District crews will perform the work. They will set mosquito traps to determine the mosquito population in the city, agency spokeswoman Stephanie Miladin said.

GLENDALE — The first West Nile virus-related death in Los Angeles County and the discovery in Burbank of a bird carrying the virus have area health officials keeping a close eye on the virus. A man infected with West Nile virus died earlier this month, possibly marking the first death caused by the virus this year, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced Friday. The San Fernando Valley resident, who was more than 80 years old and had several chronic medical problems, died in early August after a brief hospitalization, department spokeswoman Rachel Tyree said.

Eleven mosquito samples in Burbank have tested positive for the West Nile virus, and an infected dead bird was found in Glendale, prompting local officials to renew calls for eliminating standing pools of water where the insects prefer to breed. “It's been such an epidemic year,” said Truc Dever, a spokeswoman for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. The infected house sparrow was found dead in the 1000 block of Willard Avenue in Glendale. The 11 mosquito samples that tested positive for the virus in Burbank were from sites scattered across the city.

GLENDALE — The first human case of West Nile virus this year was confirmed Thursday in the San Fernando Valley, along with 19 West Nile-positive mosquitoes, health officials said. A middle-aged Los Angeles man reported fever, headache and fatigue and is now at his home after a brief hospital stay, according to the California Department of Public Health Though scientists have not found any cases in Glendale, increased infections are expected in the coming months, said Truc Dever, spokeswoman for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

“I think a lot of people would find this to be time consuming and a lot of effort, but I still feel they deserve a meal.” — Renee Kaster , a Glendale resident who, with a couple of volunteers, cooks meals on her own time and budget for the homeless three days a week.   “I am very anxious to see us get going, and get going now.” — Mayor John Drayman on developing a set of “green” building standards for public and private development.

All talk but no action on West Nile virus Throughout the summer we have been reading about the dangers of West Nile virus. This has been a problem at least the last few summers. The Aug. 18 edition of the Glendale News-Press had a front-page article, “West Nile linked to man’s death,” and went on to reiterate the situation in which West Nile thrives, saying that the mosquito that transmits it “can be found anywhere with stagnant water choked with vegetation.

Robert Chacon Los Angeles County public health officials made a presentation to a handful of business owners in Glendale Friday to continue educating the public about the West Nile virus. Business owners at the presentation vowed to share the information with their customers. "Because of the business I'm in, I need to keep up with this and I should be here in person," said Michael Allison, owner of Med Link, a business that stores people's medical information on identification cards.

TODAY GLENDALE The Glendale Chamber of Commerce presents an informational meeting as a public service and at the request of the Department of Health Services of Los Angeles County at 9 a.m. at the Chamber Board Room, 200 S. Louise St. Representatives will answer questions regarding the West Nile virus. For more information, call 240-7870. Lodge 641 of the Loyal Order of Moose, Glendale chapter, will meet for dinner and dancing with a live band from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. at 357 W. Arden Ave. For prices and more information, call 240-1505.