Bird tests positive for West Nile Virus in Yolo County as virus activity rises
A dead bird has tested positive for West Nile virus in Yolo County, marking the first confirmed sign of the disease in the area as West Nile virus activity continues to rise during mosquito season.
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District announced Friday that workers had collected the dead Brewer’s blackbird near Klenhard Park in east Woodland. The specimen adds to the one mosquito and five dead bird samples that have already tested positive for the disease in Sacramento County, as mosquito season kicks off and virus activity begins “earlier” than it has in recent years, officials said.
“As temperatures continue to rise, we expect West Nile virus activity to increase throughout the region,” Gary Goodman, district manager for the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District, said in a statement. “This is concerning as we head into summer and approach the hottest months when mosquito populations and disease activity typically peak.”
Mosquito season typically spans from May to October. West Nile virus, first detected in California in 2003, is endemic in Sacramento and Yolo counties and is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the United States. Last year, 124 confirmed human cases of the disease — including 11 fatalities — were reported in California, according to the district.
Goodman urged residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites and eliminate mosquito breeding sites around their homes as the season gets underway.
The public is also encouraged to report dead birds to the California Department of Public Health hotline. Though not all reported birds will be collected and tested, reports help guide mosquito surveillance and control efforts, a spokesperson for the department said in a statement.
How can I protect myself from mosquito bites?
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District recommends the “seven Ds of mosquito prevention” to limit the risk of mosquito bites:
- Drain any standing water that may serve as mosquito breeding sites.
- Dawn and dusk are when mosquitoes are most active, and times to avoid being outdoors.
- Dress appropriately by wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
- Defend yourself from mosquitoes by using and correctly applying effective insect repellent, like DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
- Door and window screens should be kept in good working condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
- District personnel are who to go to in case you face any mosquito personnel at 800-429-1022 or visit FightTheBite.net.
