LAKEPORT, Calif. – West Nile Virus is active throughout the country, including Lake County, and officials from Lake County Health Services and the Lake County Vector Control District remind residents to stay safe during the holiday weekend.
“This year, West Nile Virus activity has been high throughout California, including Lake County. Locally, this is the most West Nile Virus activity we’ve seen since 2007, and the season isn’t over yet,” said Lake County Vector Control District Manager and Research Director Jamesina J. Scott, Ph.D. “We are still finding mosquitoes that are carrying the virus, which means the mosquitoes can infect people,” she reported.
“With the increased West Nile activity now evident in mosquitoes and birds in Lake County, it is more important than ever for people of all ages to take precautions against mosquito bites. Staying indoors during early morning and evening hours, keeping window screens in good repair, wearing protective clothing and use of insect repellents according to package instructions will help reduce your risk of catching the infection,” said Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.
West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquitoes to a variety of animals and to humans. Mosquito and Vector Control agencies usually detect the virus in mosquitoes, birds and sometimes tree squirrels before human cases appear.
Dr. Scott explained that West Nile Virus activity is highest in the summertime because high temperatures help the both mosquitoes and the virus to multiply more quickly, which results in larger populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes.
“People spend more time outside in the summer, and are exposed to more mosquitoes that potentially are carrying West Nile Virus or other diseases,” she said.
The Lake County Vector Control District routinely tests samples of female mosquitoes, dead birds, and sentinel chickens for the presence of West Nile Virus. The district uses the surveillance data to guide their control activities.
This year, 12 mosquito samples and two dead birds from Lake County have been positive for West Nile Virus. No human cases have been reported in Lake County.
Forty-four human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been reported in California this year, serving as a reminder that taking precautions is important to preventing this sometimes serious and even deadly infection.
West Nile Virus symptoms of the mild form include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can last only a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.
Less than 1 percent of individuals (about 1 in 150 people) infected with West Nile Virus will develop severe illness.
The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
West Nile Virus infection can be fatal. People over age 50 and diabetics appear to be at most risk for the more severe forms of disease. There is no vaccine for humans.
A vaccine is available for horses and is strongly recommended because West Nile Virus can also cause serious illness or death in horses.
Local officials offer the following recommendations to reduce exposure to mosquito bites and prevent infection of West Nile Virus:
Drain: Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including buckets, old car tires, pet bowls, and unused wading pools. If you have a pond or livestock watering trough, contact the Lake County Vector Control District for mosquito fish.
Dawn and dusk: Mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus bite in the early morning and evening. When possible, avoid being outside at these times. If you are outside when mosquitoes are active, use repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing that reduces the risk of skin exposure to mosquito bites during this time.
Defend: Use an EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 according to label instructions. Repellents keep mosquitoes from biting. Make sure your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Repair or replace screens with tears or holes.
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.
Residents can request service, get mosquitofish, or report neglected swimming pools to the district at 707-263-4770 or www.lcvcd.org . Just one neglected pool can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
Please report dead birds or squirrels to 1-877-West Nile Virus-BIRD (1-877-968-2473) or visit the California Department of Public Health’s West Nile Virus Web site at www.westnile.ca.gov .
For additional information on West Nile Virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm .