RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Two Riverside County men are the first in the Inland Empire to contract West Nile virus this year.

The victims, aged 53 and 43, were hospitalized in the western part of the county. Their names were not released.

“West Nile virus is rarely life-threatening, but it can be serious,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, county public health officer. “Fortunately, the virus can only be spread by mosquito bites.”

A comprehensive surveillance program to monitor the virus in Riverside County has been established by the Department of Environmental Health’s Vector Control Program, local mosquito and vector-control districts, and other state and local agencies.

Story Date: August 24, 2017