West Nile risk rising: Mosquitoes in Sacramento County test positive for virus
Local residents received a second sign in less than a week that West Nile virus activity is on the rise after vector control officials reported Thursday that a mosquito sample in Sacramento County had tested positive for the disease.
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District reported Tuesday that a dead American crow found in Davis had tested positive for the disease, which can cause headaches, body aches, diarrhea, skin rash and vomiting.
“As we expected, after finding the first positive bird earlier in the week in Davis, now we are finding virus in the mosquito populations,“ said Gary Goodman, the district’s manager.
Goodman attributed the rise in reports to the ideal conditions that mosquitoes are finding for breeding., noting that the insects look for stagnant water in which to lay their eggs. As temperatures soared above 90 in May, eggs could have hatched in 24 to 72 hours and larvae could have reached adulthood in a little less than two weeks.
The positive mosquito sample was taken near Watt Avenue and Longview Drive, which straddles the border between northeast Sacramento city limits and the Arden Arcade and North Highlands areas. Goodman encouraged residents to take these findings seriously and protect themselves. Last year in California he noted, there were 129 confirmed human cases of the disease, including 12 fatalities.
“As more people enjoy outdoor activities during the warm spring evenings, it’s important to remember that the best protection against mosquito bites is an effective insect repellent,” Goodman said.
Since dead birds often are a harbinger of West Nile virus activity, Goodman urged residents to call 877-968-2473 if they spot one. Residents can also file a report online at fightthebite.net or westnile.ca.gov.
The West Nile virus causes inflammation that can damage the brain and central nervous system, medical experts say, and there is no cure. If an infected person gets sick enough to require hospitalization, care teams offer supportive care to manage the headaches, body aches, diarrhea, skin rash and vomiting. While the disease can be fatal, some people may have the illness but never feel any symptoms.
Check your property and drain any standing water that could be a breeding ground, Goodman said, and report any neglected swimming pools or other potential breeding grounds to vector control officials.
District inspectors will increase mosquito trapping and monitoring in the area around Arcade Creek, where the infection was found, to determine where mosquitoes may be breeding, Goodman said. If necessary, they will do targeted ground spraying to rapidly decrease the number of adult mosquitoes, he said.
To prevent mosquito bites, experts recommend avoiding outdoor activity at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, wear long sleeves and pants when outside and use insect repellent as directed on labels.
