Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 27, 2022

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Mountain View News Saturday, August 6 , 2022 

LA COUNTY HEALTH UPDATE 

GOVERNOR SIGNS PORTANTINO’S BILL CREATING 
REGIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST

FIRST HUMAN CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS 
REPORTED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY FOR 
2022

ALL RESIDENTS SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS 
AGAINST MOSQUITOES 

LOS ANGELES-- The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public 
Health) has confirmed the first cases of human West Nile virus (WNV) infection 
in Los Angeles County for the 2022 season (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena 
as cases identified in those cities are reported by their local health departments). 
A total of six cases have been identified, most of whom were hospitalized for their 
illness in late July and early August. The cases reside in the Antelope Valley, San 
Fernando Valley, and San Gabriel Valley and all are recovering.

“Mosquitos thrive in hot weather and residents should follow simple steps to reduce 
their risk of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus,” 
said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “Simple measures 
can reduce mosquitos and mosquito bites, like protecting yourself and your 
family with insect repellent and removing standing water outside your home. West 
Nile virus can lead to hospitalization or death, and, by taking preventative steps 
now, residents can better protect themselves against infection and the serious neuro-
invasive disease caused by this virus.”

West Nile virus (WNV) is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms 
may include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, and a mild skin rash. WNV can 
affect the brain and spinal cord and result in meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis 
and even death.

There is no vaccine for WNV and no treatment to cure the illness once an individual 
becomes sick.

Adults over the age of 50 years and those with chronic health problems are at higher 
risk of severe illness if infected. While not all mosquitoes carry this virus, the 
type of mosquito that spreads this virus is found throughout Los Angeles County.

Public Health recommends the following actions to reduce the risk of West Nile 
virus infection:

• Avoid mosquito-infested areas at dawn and dusk.

• Use insect repellant. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)registered 
repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus 
(OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. When used as directed, 
EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant 
and breastfeeding women. Find the right insect repellent for you by using EPA’s 
search tool.

• Cover up. Consider wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you 
are outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk in areas where more mosquitoes are 
present.

• Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.

o Use screens on windows and doors. Check for and repair holes in screens 
to keep mosquitoes outdoors.

o Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water. Once a week, empty 
and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, 
planters, toys, pet bowls, flowerpot saucers, rain barrels, or other containers. 
These are breeding grounds for mosquitos where they lay their eggs.

o Empty and wash birdbaths and wading pools weekly.

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

o Stock garden ponds with mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), goldfish, Koi or 
other mosquito-eating fish. These feed on mosquito eggs and larvae.

Public Health continues to document human cases of WNV every year in LA 
County, at an average of 91 cases per year during the last 5 years. However, the total 
number of people infected with WNV each year in LA County is much higher 
as most infected persons do not experience any illness or only mild illness. These 
cases are neither reported nor recognized as WNV. About three-quarters of reported 
cases have had severe disease and approximately 9% of patients with severe 
WNV die from complications. Public Health collaborates with local vector control 
agencies to target areas for mosquito control activities as well as educate people 
about how to protect themselves.

Reduction of mosquito breeding sources and protection from mosquito bites are 
the best ways to prevent WNV infection.

“This is a reminder that West Nile Virus is active in Los Angeles County every 
year and mosquito control is a shared responsibility,” says Leann Verdick, District 
Manager of the Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. “While our 
technicians check and treat mosquito breeding in public water sources, residents 
are urged to eliminate standing water on their property and use EPA-registered 
repellents when mosquitoes are active.”

For more information on West Nile virus, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/
westnile. To find a local vector control district, visit http://www.socalmosquito.
org.

Stagnant swimming pools or “green pools” should be reported to the Public Health 
Environmental Health Bureau at (626) 430-5200, or to a local vector control agency. 
Dead birds may be reported by calling (877) 968-2473 or online: https://westnile.
ca.gov/report.php

 Governor Newsom Monday signed Senate 
Bill 1177, authored by State Senator Anthony 
Portantino, into law. SB 1177 creates a regional 
affordable housing trust between the cities of 
Pasadena, Burbank, and Glendale. In June, the 
Senator announced that his budget request to 
create and fund the regional affordable housing 
trust had been approved in the 2022-2023 State 
Budget, allocating $23 million to help finance 
affordable housing projects created by SB 1177.

 “I am thrilled that the Governor has supported 
and funded this effort,” stated Senator Portantino. 
“Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena have been at 
the forefront of meeting California’s housing 
needs. The high cost of housing has had a 
devastating effect on Californians, especially on 
lower income and workforce households in the 
Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena area. These 
three great cities initiated a creative solution and 
we are grateful to the Governor for signing this 
critical housing measure.”

 “The City of Glendale is incredibly grateful 
to the Governor for recognizing the tri-cities’ 
creative approach to bringing more affordable 
housing to our region, and for signing SB 1177 
into law. Glendale is ready to get to work with 
our neighboring cities of Burbank and Pasadena 
to help meet the housing needs of vulnerable 
individuals and families in the region,” stated 
Glendale Mayor Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian. 

 Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena have nearly 
3,000 affordable housing units in the combined 
development pipeline, including permanent 
supportive housing, senior housing, workforce 
housing, and affordable home ownership units. 
Due to insufficient local funding, they have 
been unable to bring their backlog of affordable 
housing projects to completion.

 “The City is Burbank is very excited that SB 
1177 has been signed by the Governor. This bill 
along with the $23M in funding for our region 
will be extremely beneficial for Burbank and 
help us to add much needed affordable housing 
to our city. The programs that come as a result 
of the bill coupled with the funding will change 
the lives of the residents who participate in our 
future affordable programs. We can’t thank 
Senator Portantino enough for carrying the 
bill all the way to completion,” stated Burbank 
Mayor Jess Talamantes.

 “We in the City of Pasadena are grateful for 
the Governor’s signature on SB 1177. The 
housing affordability crisis continues to press 
many households in our region as they struggle 
to keep up with rising housing costs,” stated 
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo. “It is critical that 
additional funding be made available to produce 
more housing, especially affordable housing. 
This is not a challenge that can be addressed 
by one city alone. It will take cities working 
together, because we are stronger together, are 
in a better position to address the housing crisis. 
Thank you to Senator Portantino, his colleagues, 
and Governor Newsom on signing this bill to 
make it possible for Pasadena to work with its 
neighbors to fund and construct much needed 
affordable housing in our region. Increasing 
land prices, construction costs and interest 
rates have made this a huge challenge, but we 
are committed to do all we can to create more 
affordable housing. SB 1177 is a critical part of 
that commitment.”

 SB 1177, creates a regional housing trust fund 
that would be administered by a joint powers 
authority (JPA) comprised of the cities of 
Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena. Under the 
bill, the JPA would be allowed to request and 
receive private and state funding allocations, 
as well as authorize and issue bonds, to help 
finance affordable housing projects for persons 
and families of extremely low-, very low-, low-, 
and moderate-income households.


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