http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992770 West Nile virus reaches California 12:40 09 September 02 NewScientist.com news service A Californian woman has been infected with West Nile virus, preliminary tests suggest. If confirmed, the case will mark the virus's spread right across the US just three years after the first human case in New York. "We have been anticipating the arrival of West Nile virus in California as reports of the disease have progressed steadily westward across the United States," California's State Health Director said. The woman was treated for meningitis, a symptom of West Nile infection, in early August and had not travelled outside the Los Angeles region shortly before falling ill, health officials confirmed. The results of final West Nile tests are expected by the end of this week. On Friday, Canada also reported its first West Nile case, in Ontario. Four other "probable" cases are also being investigated, health officials said.