Los Angeles – A recent surge in mosquito activity across California has led to a sharp rise in West Nile virus cases, prompting former Santa Barbara resident and local communications director Paul Vercammen to share his harrowing ordeal.
Personal experience highlights danger
Vercammen, who now serves as Communications Director for ShelterBox USA, contracted the potentially fatal virus early last month while playing golf at dusk in Van Nuys. “I was goofing around, hitting some golf balls,” he recalled. “I had on shorts, probably not long socks, and I came home with mosquito bites and no protection. I really regret it.”
Within days, he experienced brain fog and was notified by the Red Cross that a routine blood donation test had returned positive for West Nile. “The Red Cross ends up sort of being a hero in all of this,” he said.
Severe health impacts
Like dozens of other Californians this year, Vercammen was hospitalized with meningitis‑encephalitis, a serious swelling of the brain caused by the virus. At UCLA Medical Center, he underwent extensive neurological testing. “They rigged me up with every sort of brain test and contraption you could imagine,” he said.
He spent five days in the hospital battling a horrific headache, balance issues, and aphasia – an inability to articulate words. “When they asked me my pain level, I garbled something about LinkedIn, Gmail and Instagram. I couldn’t get a sentence together and that was haunting,” Vercammen recalled.
Local statistics and risk factors
Los Angeles County Public Health reports roughly 216 confirmed West Nile cases and ten deaths statewide, with people over 50 at higher risk for severe reactions. Vercammen emphasized that many infections go unnoticed because symptoms mimic the flu.
Practical steps for families
Vercammen urges residents to eliminate standing water – from public ponds to backyard flower pots, dog dishes, or any small pools that serve as mosquito breeding grounds. “Wear your bug spray, long pants, long socks, long sleeves. Don’t be out there at dusk. If you see clusters of mosquitoes, go back inside,” he advised.
He also noted the irony that ShelterBox USA supplies mosquito netting to other countries to protect against mosquito‑borne illnesses, underscoring the importance of simple, effective measures at home.
Community response
Local health officials continue to update case numbers daily and encourage residents to report mosquito hotspots. The surge serves as a reminder that vigilance and personal protection are essential to safeguard families and uphold community health.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
