Two women are confirmed to have been infected with the West Nile Virus, according to health officials from the Stanislaus Health Services Agency in California. Both women, ages 36 and 72, are from Stanislaus County, where eight dead birds have also tested positive for infection since earlier this month.

One of the women is reported to have been hospitalized for her symptoms.

The virus has also been positively identified in dead birds and mosquito pools in surrounding areas. The entire state has reported cases of West Nile Identification in 21 counties thus far, including human infections in Contra Costa and Tulare counties.

The West Nile Virus is spread through mosquito bites after the insects feed on infected birds and bite other organisms. Around 20 percent of the people infected develop symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain, body pain, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. A much smaller portion, less than one in 100, experience more severe neurological sickness, like meningitis or encephalitis. Roughly one out of 10 who develop neurological symptoms will die as a result.

Symptoms often resolve themselves, though it can take several weeks or months for them to do so. Those who develop the more severe symptoms can find themselves dealing with those issues for much longer. There are no vaccines available to prevent infection of the virus and no treatments for the infection once it has occurred.

Summer sees the most active months for infection, with the peak time for cases occurring around the middle of August. Preventative measures can be taken to help avoid infection with the virus. These include using insect repellant, wearing long sleeves and pants to cover skin, and staying inside during the insect’s peak times of activity, sunrise and the two hours after sunset.

People should also report dead birds to local health officials. Birds are crucial for helping to determine if the virus is in an area and if preventative treatments are needed for mosquitoes in the area.