West Nile and Mosquitoes

 

FIRST MOSQUITO SAMPLE OF THE SEASON TESTS POSITIVE FOR 
WEST NILE VIRUS 
 
Elk Grove, Ca.—The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District  confirmed today that the first mosquito sample of the season has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).  The mosquito sample was collected near the Florin area of south Sacrament County. “As we expected, after finding the first positive bird earlier in the week, now we are finding virus in the mosquito populations, “ said Gary Goodman, District Manager. “With the very warm weather expected over the next few days, we expect WNV activity to quickly ramp up,” he added.  The District encourages residents to take these findings seriously and do everything they can to protect themselves. Last year in California there were 211 confirmed human cases of the disease, including 11 fatalities. 
 
The detection of this recent WNV activity is evidence that the disease is present and the public should take proper precautions to stay protected. “As more people enjoy outdoor activities during the warm summer evenings, it's important to remember that the best protection against mosquito bites is an effective insect repellent” said Goodman. Residents are also encouraged to report dead birds, neglected pools and other mosquito problems.
 
As a response to the finding of WNV, the District will increase its mosquito trapping and monitoring in the area to find sources where mosquitoes may be breeding. Targeted ground spraying may also be conducted to rapidly decrease the numbers of adult mosquitoes.
 
For current information about District activities, please visit www.FIGHTtheBITE.net. Residents may also subscribe to mailing lists to receive email notifications for upcoming mosquito treatments by zip code. To sign up, go to Spray Notifications on the website.