West Nile Virus Update
West Nile Virus Update 8/07/09, 7:35 am.
As of 8/07/09, no fogging operations are planned in Santa Clara County. So far in 2009, the District has found ten positive dead birds and one positive urban mosquito sample. No human cases have been reported.
Planned fogging operations in Sunnyvale were completed as of 2:00 a.m., on 6/25/09. A total of 2,223 acres (3.5 square miles) were fogged. Post-fogging mosquito sampling showed a reduction of 60 percent in mosquito population as a result of the operations, and no additional WNV-positive mosquitoes were detected.
The District confirmed on June 11 that adult mosquitoes collected from the 94089 zip code area of Sunnyvale tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The detection of infected mosquitoes, followed the discovery of a West Nile Virus infected bird about a mile away on May 26, and has prompted the scheduling of mosquito fogging in the surrounding area to prevent human cases of WNV. Weather permitting, the ground fogging is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24th, at 11 PM, and will last several hours.
The fogging area was bordered by Highway 237 on the north, Fair Oaks Avenue on the west, Great America Parkway on the east, and E. Arques Avenue on the south.
A live Google map of the fogging area is available here:
A community informational open house meeting was held on Tuesday, June 23rd at Lakewood Park in the multi-purpose room, 750 Lakechime Drive, Sunnyvale from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Forty-four residents visited to get information about the fogging operation.
Residents can visit the District’s website at www.sccvector.org to sign up for e-mail notification of any WNV activity in the County. Residents may also call the District’s WNV recorded hotline at 800-314-2427 for up-to-date information.
Transmitted by mosquito bites, WNV causes mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body ache and, in severe cases, significant neurological symptoms or even death. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk.
During 2008, California reported 445 human infections with 15 mortalities.
While no human cases of WNV have been confirmed in Santa Clara County, fogging to suppress WNV infected mosquitoes in the area will reduce the risk for human transmission of the virus.
Other steps residents can take to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes are:
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When outdoors, wear long sleeved shirts and long pants
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Ensure that door and window screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes
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Consider using insect repellent at dusk and dawn
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Call the District for free mosquito-eating fish for water sources on their property, such as ponds, troughs, and decorative fountains
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Contact the District to report mosquito problems or green pools/spas.
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