West Nile Virus threat in the Imperial Valley

elchrist

Yesterday three birds were found dead and infected with the West Nile virus in San Diego County. So far there have been a total of five dead infected birds in San Diego this year and health experts are suggesting that you eliminate any collected water outdoors to prevent the breeding of mosquitos.

With the recent heavy rains in Imperial County, I've noticed that many of the resident "parks" in Calexico, which are actually more like water basins/reservoirs, have been flooded with rain water. Many continue to be this way today.

There haven't been any reports of infected birds in the Imperial Valey, but there have been reports of pools of infected mosquitos in the area. With these water basins looking more like lakes and being perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos, are we at risk of a West Nile virus infection?

locoinclx · Posted: 07 Aug 2005 12:11 PM Post subject:

I really do not get the philosophy of the parks and recreation department to build the parks/basins that way... supposedly it is for storing water durring the rainy season. yes thats their actual response to why they do that.... Im sorry to say but Rain... in calexico???? has the weather changed since i left calexico or what???

elchrist · Posted: 09 Aug 2005 05:39 PM Post subject:

locoinclx · Posted: 09 Aug 2005 05:43 PM Post subject:

elchrist · Posted: 26 Aug 2005 03:36 PM Post subject: NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
María Peinado
Public Information Officer
Imperial County Public
Health Department
PHONE: (760) 482-4461

DATE: Thursday August 25, 2005

IMPERIAL COUNTY REPORTS FIRST CASE OF
WEST NILE VIRUS THIS YEAR

IMPERIAL COUNTY – A middle-aged Imperial County woman has been
diagnosed with viral meningitis caused by West Nile Virus (WNV), making her the
county’s first reported case this year of the mosquito-borne illness. The woman
has been released from a local hospital and is recuperating at home.
“Because of the recent rain this region has experienced we expect to see
additional activity related to WNV in the next couple of months. The conditions
are providing a perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed,” said Stephen
Munday, M.D., Health Officer. “We must make every effort to protect ourselves
and our families from mosquito bites as well as eliminate mosquito breeding
sources around our homes.”
To date in 2005, WNV activity has been detected in 51 of California’s 58
counties. A total of 300 individuals from 24 counties have been infected with
WNV this year and there have been six WNV-related fatalities.
Most individuals who are infected with WNV will not experience any illness.
Others will have only mild symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches.
However, WNV can be severe in the elderly and individuals with lowered immune
systems.
WNV is transmitted to humans and animals through a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes
become infected when they feed on infected birds. Human-to-human
transmission of WNV generally does not occur. However, human WNV infection
was associated with blood transfusions and organ transplants in 2002.

Imperial County, the Vector Control Program is responsible for local mosquito
control efforts. Vector technicians conduct a combination of surveillance, viral
testing of sentinel flocks, mosquito trapping, adulticiding and larviciding. Efforts
are concentrated in areas throughout the County known to have significant
mosquito activity. Paul Johnson, Vector Control Supervisor stated that, “Vector
Control Technicians have been working for months now, larvaciding and fogging
areas with high mosquito activity in Imperial County. They have been covering
some of the more populated areas of the county, checking for mosquito breeding
sources and applying chemical wherever larvae have been found. “
Recently, the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) notified Imperial
County that it would be receiving $115,000 in one-time funding for the Vector
Program. The funding will be used to purchase necessary equipment,
chemicals, pay overtime for existing staff and hire additional seasonal staff. If
necessary, the Vector Control Program is prepared to conduct aerial fogging to
manage the local mosquito population in order to control the impact of the virus
in the community. Sacramento County has already turned to aerial fogging this
year due to the rapid increase in human cases.
Individuals can reduce their risk of mosquito-borne diseases by taking these
precautions:
• Limit time outdoors during dawn and early evening.
• When outdoors, wear loose fitting, light colored, long-sleeve shirts and pants
when mosquitoes are most active (during dusk and dawn).
• Apply insect repellent according to label instructions.
• Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or
replace screens that have tears or holes.
• Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property that can support
mosquito breeding.
• Contact your local mosquito and vector control agency if there is a significant
mosquito problem where you live or work.
For general information about WNV in Imperial County please contact the
Imperial County Public Health Department at (760) 482-4WNV or to report a
problem with mosquitoes please contact the Division of Environmental Health at
(760) 482-4203. For information about WNV, visit the Web site:
http://www.westnile.ca.gov/.

locoinclx · Posted: 26 Aug 2005 06:18 PM Post subject:

good thing that the city has taken care of all those ponds i mean water in the parks.. right..

elchrist · Posted: 26 Aug 2005 06:54 PM Post subject:

locoinclx · Posted: 26 Aug 2005 06:59 PM Post subject:

451PC · Posted: 26 Aug 2005 08:16 PM Post subject:

If you have a problem with mosquitoes call the Imperial County Vector Control and they will spray those pesky ponds that we all hate.

Asesino Koolarrow · Posted: 17 Oct 2005 03:12 PM Post subject: