As if a sick mommy and child isn't enough... We've already had the Mosquito and Vector Control people show up to our house to "check on" our pool status. I think it's because our house was an REO property (bank owned) and they want to make sure it's being taken care of. Read below (They are going to fog our area on Wednesday/Thursday):
Dead bird in Antioch tests positive for West Nile virus
By Simon Read
East County Times
Article Launched: 07/01/2008 04:48:34 PM PDT
A dead Western scrub jay found Monday in Antioch has tested positive for West Nile virus, the second infected bird documented in Contra Costa County this year, according to health officials.
"The bird was picked and tested in-house," said Deborah Bass, public affairs manager for the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. "It had a very strong positive test result, so there's no question it died from West Nile virus."
The first dead bird in the county to test positive for the virus was found last month in Alamo, Bass said.
Based on the number of dead bird reports, the area east of Somersville Road, west of Deer Valley Road, south of Highway 4 and north of Empire Mine Road in Antioch is at highest risk for West Nile in Contra Costa County, Bass said.
"It does change from week to week — sometimes day to day," she said. "But right now, it's definitely a high-risk area."
East County has become the epicenter of Contra Costa's foreclosure crisis, and it is now recognized as ground zero for West Nile prevention because of the area's warmer weather and abundance of abandoned homes.
An untreated swimming pool can breed as many as 1 million mosquitoes, Bass said.
"I've seen it happen; the water looks like it's boiling," she said. "The water actually bubbles with activity. This year, we actually hired a crew to do nothing but inspect and treat swimming pools."
Any source of standing water, whether a swimming pool or bird bath, is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes, Bass said.
"If mosquitoes are being produced in your backyard, that can impact people within a 5-mile radius," she said. "That's why it's so important for people to call us if they find a potential mosquito source."
West Nile virus arrived in Contra Costa in 2004, according to Vector Control. Since then, 22 people have been documented with the disease, and two have died. This year in California, one person has been documented with the virus so far, along with 184 dead birds, 57 mosquito samples, two sentinel chickens and one horse, according to Vector Control.
By the same time last year, two people were confirmed to have the disease, along with 100 dead birds, 73 mosquito samples and four sentinel chickens.
West Nile fever causes people to experience mild to severe flulike symptoms such as headache, fever and possible paralysis.
Steps residents can take to prevent the spread of West Nile virus include using insect repellent with DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Vector Control said. Drain all sources of standing water that may attract mosquitoes and make sure door and window screens are fitted properly.
Horses are highly susceptible to the virus and should be vaccinated, Bass said.
"West Nile virus is here, and it's not going away," she said.
"The more we learn, the more we can take the proper steps to reduce the risk. The precautions should just become habit. When you're out at dusk and dawn, which is when mosquitoes are most active, make sure you use repellent and wear long sleeves and pants."
Residents can call 877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473) to report a dead bird. To report mosquito problems, call county Vector Control at 925-771-6195.
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