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Lake County mosquito samples test positive for West Nile virus
The mosquitoes, Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito), were collected near Lower Lake on Aug. 6.
“This is the first detection of West Nile virus this year in Lake County,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “Mosquitoes develop in water, so you can protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by dumping out standing water. Take a walk around your yard today and look for places that might hold water like buckets, toys, and boats and dump out any water you find. If you have a pond, livestock watering trough, or water feature that can’t be drained, then contact the District and we can provide free mosquito-eating fish to prevent mosquitoes from growing there.”
“If you plan to be outside when mosquitoes are active, use insect repellent applied according the directions on the label and reapply as directed,” said Dr. Erin Gustafson, Lake County Deputy Health Officer.
Dr. Gustafson also encourages residents, “Wear long pants and long sleeves, and residents can treat items, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents, with permethrin or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Residents should also sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.”
The district asks residents to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by:
– Dumping or draining standing water to prevent mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle.
–Defending yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow the label directions.
– Avoiding the outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
So far this year, West Nile virus activity only has been detected in Lake County in the two mosquito samples.
West Nile virus in humans
Statewide, 21 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquitoes. As of Aug. 2, six human cases of West Nile virus illness have been reported in California residents this year.
No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection in humans are available.
Most people – 80 percent – with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.
About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint, pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
About 1 in 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop severe illness which causes inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. Recovery from severe illness can take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) might be permanent.
In about 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, the infection can be fatal. People over age 60 and those with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, kidney disease, and people have received organ transplants are at greatest risk of severe disease.
The most recent confirmed case of human WNV infection in Lake County was in 2016.
See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above. Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection. To learn more about testing, visit the CDC’s Healthcare Providers page.
Vector Control offers information, resources
Mosquitoes that transmit WNV develop in the water in out-of-service swimming pools and spas, animal watering troughs, ornamental ponds, rain barrels and other sources of standing water.
Residents can get mosquito-eating fish for these sources free of charge from the Vector Control District. Swimming pools and spas that aren’t being maintained can produce thousands of biting mosquitoes every day. Residents can help reduce mosquitoes in their neighborhoods by reporting unmaintained pools to the District, Dr. Scott recommends.
Anyone with questions or who would like help with a mosquito problem, including reporting a neglected pool or spa, should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit the district Web site at www.lcvcd.org .
For more information about West Nile virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ .
Information about mosquito repellents can be found on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html .