West Nile virus Update 7/22/16
This week, the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) confirmed West Nile virus (WNV) activity for the first time this year in the cities of Mission Viejo, Orange, and Tustin.
In areas where West Nile virus has been detected, OCMVCD staff are deployed to canvass the area to look for mosquito breeding sources, expand public education, and work with city officials to correct infrastructure issues.
West Nile virus is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire WNV when they feed on infected birds, and then pass the virus along when they bite humans.
The District urges the public to conduct routine property inspections for mosquito-breeding sources. Look for any standing water around the house or neighborhood and either remove the water source, or contact the District to inspect and treat the source. Remember, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in just one week in a water source as small as a bottle cap.
Other recommendations: Repair broken or torn window and door screens, avoid spending time outdoors at dawn or dusk, and apply insect repellent when outdoors.
If you find a dead bird, call the District as soon as possible. A District representative will collect all viable dead birds and submit them for testing.
With increasingly warm average daily temperatures, above average mosquito populations, above average West Nile virus positive mosquito samples and dead birds, and a human infection in a neighboring county, the current risk of WNV transmission has been assessed as elevated.
For more information, contact the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District at (949) 654-2421 or visit www.ocvcd.org