Los Angeles, Ca
Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in L.A. County
A mosquito examined optimistic for West Nile virus in Los Angeles County, marking the primary such pattern this 12 months, well being officers introduced Monday.
The optimistic mosquito pattern was collected from a mosquito lure in Bellflower, confirming the presence of the virus in mosquito populations throughout the neighborhood, in keeping with the Higher Los Angeles County Vector Management District.
Whereas this affirmation serves as the primary optimistic mosquito pattern this 12 months, West Nile virus was detected in three useless crows discovered within the North Hills neighborhood on Could 26, the company mentioned.
Surveilling useless birds serves as an early warning detection instrument that helps authorities establish when the virus is actively being transmitted between birds within the space.
“West Nile virus is unfold amongst hen populations and transmitted to people by the chew of an contaminated mosquito,” mentioned Steve Vetrone, director of Scientific-Technical Providers. “It is extremely necessary to keep in mind that at the moment the virus may very well be wherever, despite the fact that we could not have detected it but.”
West Nile virus is endemic to L.A. County, and it’s often detected within the area throughout summer time.
The virus is the main reason for mosquito-borne illness within the U.S. and is transmitted to people by the chew of an contaminated mosquito.
Final 12 months, 17 folks in L.A. County have been contaminated with West Nile virus, and 12 have been hospitalized. One particular person died from a neuroinvasive illness related to the virus in 2021, in keeping with the county’s Division of Public Well being.
In 2020, there have been seven West Nile Virus deaths and 93 infections countywide, the well being division reported.
As a result of there is no such thing as a human vaccine for West Nile virus, residents are urged to be proactive in opposition to mosquito bites by carrying insect repellent. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention advocate merchandise with the lively components DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus as being secure and efficient.
About 1 in 5 folks contaminated with the virus will exhibit signs, which might embody fever, headache, physique aches, nausea or pores and skin rash. The signs can final from days to months.
Extreme West Nile virus infections can occur in some instances, particularly in these over 50 with continual medical circumstances like most cancers and diabetes. The an infection can have an effect on the mind and spinal wire, inflicting meningitis, encephalitis and paralysis.
About 1 in 150 folks contaminated with the virus would require hospitalization. Extreme signs embody excessive fever, muscle weak spot, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis and presumably demise, officers mentioned.
Most mosquitoes don’t carry the virus, and most of the people bitten by mosquitos are usually not uncovered to extreme West Nile virus. Nonetheless, officers urge residents to take the next steps to cut back the specter of the virus of their neighborhoods.
- Get rid of standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or something that holds water for greater than per week.
- Be sure that swimming swimming pools, spas and ponds are correctly maintained.
- Change the water in pet dishes, hen baths and different small containers weekly.
- Request mosquitofish out of your native vector management district for placement in decorative ponds.
- Report uncared for (inexperienced) swimming swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector management district.
Los Angeles, Ca
Vigil held to honor L.A. firefighter lost at sea in free dive off Long Beach
SEAL BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) – Family, friends and colleagues gathered Sunday in Seal Beach to honor the life of Connor Lees, a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department who died earlier this month during a recreational free dive.
The Dec. 5 incident occurred when Lees, 29, and three other divers in their 20’s went for a free dive, which entails a person holding their breath for as long as they can while diving without scuba gear, in the waters off Long Beach, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Long Beach Fire spokesperson Brian Fisk told The Times one of the men was presumably piloting the small watercraft while the others were free diving, adding that only two of the three returned from the dive.
The three men called for emergency help just before 10 a.m., launching a multi-agency search with divers from the U.S. Coast Guard, LAFD, L.A. County Fire, LBPD and the L.A. Port Police.
More than 19 hours after the search began, officials made the difficult decision to transition from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission.
“The decision to transition operations to a recovery mission is not taken lightly,” LBFD said in a post to Instagram. “As we make this transition, our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of the missing diver and for our brothers and sisters at the Los Angeles City Fire Department.”
Officials told The Times that investigators did not suspect foul play, and that Lees was believed to be lost at sea.
Lees, who grew up in Seal Beach and was a six-year veteran of LAFD, was remembered Sunday night as something of an institution in the community, one whose untimely and tragic death has affected so many that knew him.
Friends said the 29-year-old loved the ocean and the beach and that the place he grew up was the perfect spot to honor lasting memory.
Los Angeles, Ca
Plane crash on Southern California golf course leaves 2 hospitalized
CARSON, Calif. (KTLA) – A small aircraft crash landed onto a golf course Sunday in Carson.
Details are extremely limited and it’s unclear how the crash occurred, but officials with the Los Angeles County Fire Department said crews responded to the Victoria Golf Course, located at 340 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. at around 3:45 p.m., on reports of the downed plane.
In footage of the crash posted to the Citizen App the damaged aircraft, which appears to be upside down, can be seen beneath a low-lying limb of a nearby tree just off what a practice putting green.
The area where the plane came to a stop had been cordoned off with yellow tape by deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who were also at the crash site.
Not far away, debris from the crash, possibly a part that came off the aircraft, can be seen on the ground.
The golf course did not appear closed for the investigation as golfers very near to the crash site continued playing even as first responders worked nearby.
It’s unclear how many people were in the aircraft when it went down, but at least two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, L.A. County Fire confirmed to KTLA.
This story will be updated when additional details are made available.
Los Angeles, Ca
Traffic chaos unfolds during KTLA reporter's live shot
Any Los Angeles-area driver can relate — the freeway accidents that cause traffic jams always happen at the worst possible times.
That appeared to be the case on Sunday morning. As KTLA’s Gene Kang was preparing to talk about the holiday travel rush from an overpass over the 110 Freeway near downtown L.A., he witnessed an interesting traffic situation.
While KTLA cameras didn’t catch the collision occur, the aftermath was clear. The driver of a sedan appeared to have crashed into a concrete overpass, causing significant damage to the front end car.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the driver or any other occupants were injured in the crash.
However, the cleanup forced officials to close two lanes on the 110, making just one lane open.
The traffic from that situation caused a large backup, as drivers are familiar with in L.A. While Kang was getting ready to report on some holiday travel tips, he witnessed multiple drivers performing illegal mauveurs, including driving right over a center median on the freeway.
That situation was clearly dangerous, as the drivers were steering right onto other lanes of the freeway, where others behind the wheel of their vehicles were going full speed.
Luckily, no other crashes occurred. The situation likely brought back some memories for Kang, who is no stranger to weird incidents while reporting live on KTLA.
In 2022, as he was talking about a hit-and-run on “one of the most dangerous roads in L.A.,” a car wreck happened in the background of one of his live shots. And in a weird twist-of-fate, it was also a hit-and-run. Of course.
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