Banning-area boy confirmed as state's second West Nile case

(07-01) 12:24 PDT Banning, Calif. (AP) --

California has its second confirmed case of West Nile virus this year, health officials said.

A Riverside County youth who was hospitalized in mid-June with severe headaches and fever was confirmed through testing as having been infected with West Nile, state Health Director Sandra Shewry said Thursday.

The boy, identified only as a teenager from the Banning area, spent four days in the hospital.

"He is recovering," said Barbara Cole, Riverside County's disease control director.

The state's first West Nile case of the year was identified Wednesday as a 47-year-old Visalia man. He sought medical care for fever and headache in early June and is recovering.

Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to humans. Most infections are mild, but severe cases can cause paralysis and swelling of the brain.

"We anticipate seeing a rapid increase in West Nile virus activity over the next few weeks because the hot summer temperatures are here, providing perfect weather for mosquitoes to breed," Shewry said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's revised budget includes $12 million in extra funding for existing mosquito control programs.

The virus has been detected this year in 34 of California's 58 counties in birds, mosquitoes, chickens and horses.

Last year, there were 830 cases of West Nile reported in California, including 28 deaths. Most occurred in Southern California.