Mosquitoes in Southern California areas were reported to contain the deadly West Nile Virus after samples were collected from areas within the San Fernando Valley over the weekend.

Neighboring cities to Santa Clarita Valley such as Bakersfield and Porter Ranch have cases where the parasites tested positive for the deadly virus, according to the California West Nile Virus website.

With the Santa Clarita Valley resting in between areas that experienced cases involving birds, mosquitoes and humans, residents should be aware and take all measures to protect themselves.

John Wu, emergency room physician with Providence Holy Cross Hospital, gave some precautionary advice for the public to protect themselves and loved ones against the mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus.

“The best way to protect against West Nile and mosquitoes is to use mosquito repellent,” said Wu. “Right now is mosquito season, so anytime you go outdoors, just apply anything that has Deet … to your skin. It will protect you from mosquitoes.”

The physician also provided some tips for residents that are looking for alternatives to using repellant when going outdoors.

“If you keep your skin covered, the mosquito wouldn’t bite you,” added Wu. “I know it’s hot and people don’t want to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when they go out, but that would be the best way to protect yourself if you don’t have any insect repellant.”

Adults applying repellant to small children are advised to make sure they don’t apply it to hands or areas near the mouth. For babies younger than two months, it’s best to protect them by covering exposed skin, according to the ER physician.

Most mosquito activity occurs during the sunset and at night, so the public is advised to apply repellant or avoid going outdoors around these hours of the day if possible.

A slim number of people who get bit and contract the virus will actually experience symptoms, added Wu.

Only 25 percent affected will have symptoms such as fever, body aches and fatigue.

Those who have been bit and begin to feel fever symptoms are encouraged to treat it like a fever by taking over-the-counter medicine such as Ibuprofen, drinking plenty of water and resting.

Just 1 percent of those who contract the virus can contract meningitis or encephalitis, which will cause severe headache, neck stiffness and sensitivity to light and confusion along with fever, according to Wu.

Homeowners in the Santa Clarita Valley are encouraged to take measures that could curb the amount of mosquitoes breeding by draining areas of standing water around their homes.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.