West Nile virus activity rampant in California. Heat wave speeds up mosquito breeding
The leader of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District warned local residents that West Nile virus is intensifying after receiving word earlier in the day that 20 mosquito samples tested positive for the illness.
District Manager Gary Goodman said Monday that many of the samples were collected from Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Arden Arcade and Orangevale: “We are keeping a very close eye on all these locations as we have seen a steady amplification of the virus. ... It just takes one mosquito bite to change your life. Please be aware that WNV can affect anyone.”
The dangerous heat spell over California has made the Central Valley the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, Goodman said, allowing larvae to reach adulthood in as little as four to seven days. Female mosquitoes can lay up to 100 eggs every third night after mating only once, and before they die, they can produce three sets of eggs.
West Nile virus can cause high fever, headaches and muscle weakness, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions and muscle weakness. It is rarely spread person to person.
To reduce the mosquito infestation and lower the odds of infection, the district recommends:
▪ Draining standing water that may produce mosquitoes.
▪ Avoiding outdoor activities at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are more active.
▪ Wearing long sleeves and pants when outside.
▪ Using an effective insect repellent, and follow directions on the label.
▪ Keeping door and window screens in good working condition. Mosquitoes can enter your home through small holes.
As of Monday, Sutter and Yuba county authorities also have reported West Nile in 12 mosquito samples this season, and Placer County in 22 mosquito samples and one dead bird. Sacramento and Yolo counties reported the illness in 52 dead birds this year.
Dead birds often serve as the first harbingers of this disease. It has been detected in more than 300 species of birds in the U.S. To report a dead bird, call 877-968-2473 or go to http://westnile.ca.gov.
Like humans, though, most birds survive. West Nile becomes serious in 3% to 15% of human cases. While most people survive, the illness can have a lingering effect on the nervous systems of those who had serious cases. Those neuroinvasive symptoms may include overwhelming fatigue, difficulty concentrating and sleep disorders.
Statewide, West Nile has claimed the life of one individual in Los Angeles County this year. Eighteen cases have been reported in humans in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Stanislaus counties.
