California health officials have confirmed the first equine case of West Nile Virus in the state this year.

The horse that tested positive for the disease was reported earlier this month in Los Angeles County, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California West Nile Virus Web site, www.westnile.ca.gov.

By this time in 2010, four horses had been reported statewide, the Web site reported.

West Nile Virus so far this year has been reported in 19 of California's 58 counties, down from 28 at this time last year, the state reported.

Lake County so far this year has had no West Nile Virus activity, according to state data.

 

In the 19 counties where the virus has been found this year, there have 10 human cases, 151 dead birds, 609 mosquito samples, 47 sentinel chickens and one squirrel that tested positive for the disease, based on the West Nile Virus Web site's information.

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