Holiday Heat Increases West Nile Virus Activity

As the Fourth of July approaches, both East Side and Turlock Mosquito Abatement Districts encourage the citizens of Stanislaus County to continue their efforts with West Nile Virus (WNV) prevention. As of June 22, WNV has been detected in 23 California counties with the WNV activity confirmed in 77 dead birds, 119 mosquito samples, and one sentinel chicken. No human cases have been reported to date. Stanislaus County has had four positive dead birds in the city of Modesto.

“Mosquitoes continue to be a nuisance and vector of West Nile Virus here in Stanislaus County. Fireworks won’t be the only thing exploding this Fourth of July. As temperatures continue to rise, so will mosquito populations,” said District Manager Lloyd Douglass.

Both Districts continue to monitor and treat mosquito breeding sources. Backyard sources like neglected swimming pools and ornamental ponds remain a large concern. The Districts are using aerial photography to assist in locating potential mosquito breeding sites.

This year at the Stanislaus County Fair an informational booth will be staffed by both Mosquito Abatement Districts. The districts encourage citizens to visit the booth, meet their mosquito control technicians, as well as learn steps they can take to protect themselves against mosquito bites and West Nile Virus.

To report mosquito-breeding problem areas, Stanislaus County residents should contact one of the two Mosquito Abatement Districts that serve the county. For Stanislaus County addresses north of the Tuolumne River, residents should call the Eastside Mosquito Abatement District at 522-4098 (www.eastsidemosquito.com) and all others should contact the Turlock Mosquito Abatement District at 634-1234 (turlockmosquito.org).

For more information, visit the Stanislaus County Emergency website (www.stanemergency.com) for WNV information.

Here is a checklist to determine how well you are doing in your efforts against West Nile; follow the guidelines for the best chance of protecting against the virus.

Protecting yourself and family:

Wear long sleeves and pants when outside in the early morning and late afternoon;

Wear mosquito repellants when outside;

Call your local mosquito abatement district when you have mosquitoes;

Know when to reapply mosquito repellant.

Defending your home:

Dump out standing water around your house;

Keep your pool clean and clear;

Get free mosquito fish for your large water sources;

Keep mosquitoes outside by having tight fitting screens on your house;

Repair any water leaks around your home;

Remove low spots in your yard that pond with water.