LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sixteen mosquito samples, one dead bird and another sentinel chicken tested positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County last week, Lake County Vector Control reported Wednesday.
“This year we have had more West Nile Virus detected from more locations in the county than in any previous year,” said Lake County Vector Control District Manager Dr. Jamesina Scott.
For 2013, a total of 46 mosquito samples, seven dead birds and two sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Lake County, Scott reported.
Scott told Lake County News that the dead birds were from Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Lower Lake, Lucerne (two birds) and Witter Springs. Other than a tree swallow (from Lower Lake) the rest of the positive birds were American Crows and Western Scrub-Jays.
She said both of the positive chickens were from Upper Lake, and the West Nile Virus positive mosquitoes were from Anderson Marsh, Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Middletown, Spring Valley and Upper Lake.
So far, 2013 has seen no West Nile Virus equine cases in Lake County, according to Scott.
She said this year has been the second highest year for West Nile Virus activity in Lake County since the virus was detected here in 2004.
Since 2006, four Lake County residents have been diagnosed with West Nile Virus, however no human cases locally have been reported this year, Scott said.
Fifty-nine human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been reported in California this year, with four deaths attributed to the virus, serving as a reminder that taking precautions is important to preventing this sometimes serious and even deadly infection.
West Nile Virus causes no symptoms in approximately 80 percent of people who are infected, according to Scott. Up to 20 percent of people experience a variety of symptoms that may include fatigue, fever, headache, body aches, rash, and even nausea and vomiting.
While the illness can last only a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks, Scott said. Less than 1 percent of cases suffer severe illness, including neurologic effects that may be permanent, and in some instances are fatal.
There is no specific treatment for the virus, so the best approach is to avoid exposure to mosquito bites, which is how the virus is transmitted, Scott said.
“People should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites – especially over the Labor Day weekend when many of us will be outside into the evening when the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are biting.”
Scott urged Lake County residents to help reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:
- Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes can't begin their life without water.
- Defend yourself against mosquitoes using repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
- Report neglected swimming pools by calling 707-263-4770 or visiting www.lcvcd.org . Anonymous calls accepted. Just one neglected pool can produce more than one million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
“When the kids go back to school, wading pools and other toys left in the yard hold water and produce mosquitoes. It’s easy to forget about these as we spend less time outside, but the mosquitoes will find them,” Scott said.
She asked everyone to “please take a walk around your yard today and dump out any water that doesn’t need to be there.”
Scott encouraged residents who plan to take their pools out of service over the winter, or who have an ornamental pond, an animal watering trough, or other water source that cannot be drained to call the district for mosquito fish.
The Lake County Vector Control District is a public health agency that protects Lake County residents and visitors from mosquitoes and other vectors and vector-borne diseases.
The district routinely tests samples of female mosquitoes, dead birds and sentinel chickens for the presence of West Nile Virus, and uses the surveillance data to guide its mosquito control activities.
Residents who would like help with a mosquito problem should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit their Web site at www.lcvcd.org .
For more information about West Nile Virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ .