Officials: Mosquitoes in the San Gabriel Valley “Actively Circulating” West Nile Virus

Mosquito samples collected last week from the cities of West Covina and Pomona have tested positive for West Nile virus, officials said, and last month the disease was detected in a dead crow collected in Altadena and another on July 11 in Monrovia.

No evidence of West Nile virus has been found in Pasadena, a city official reported earlier this week.

However, the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District said Wednesday that the evidence collected within their District confirms that mosquitoes in the San Gabriel Valley are actively circulating the virus and people are at risk of being infected.

Pasadena operates its own vector control program under the auspices of the Pasadena Public Health Department and is not a member of the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. The two agencies collaborate very closely, officials have said.

Mosquitoes were collected on July 20, 2016 in traps placed at Cortez Park in West Covina (located at Citrus St and Cortez St.) and at Cal Poly Pomona in traps placed at the northeast, east, and the southern parts of campus.

The District is continuing with surveillance activities and increasing control efforts as it prepares for more WNV activity.

The District’s Scientific Programs Manager Dr. Wakoli Wekesa says, “With the current heat wave in full swing we anticipate more WNV activity in the District and caution all residents to be vigilant as this will be a very busy season.”

The best precaution against WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.

Since its introduction in 2003, WNV has infected more than 5,588 people and caused 229 deaths statewide, according to the California Department of Public Health. West Nile virus is endemic in California and presents a risk to public health every year.

It is critical that residents remove all standing water on their property to prevent mosquito production. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water such as neglected pools, buckets, miscellaneous containers, puddles, and ponds. Eggs can hatch and develop into biting adults in four to seven days.

Throughout the summer, basic protective measures should be followed:

•Wear mosquito repellent and protective clothing when outdoors while mosquitoes are active (especially around dawn and dusk).
•Regularly inspect property to identify and remove sources of standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs and grow.
•Ensure doors and windows are properly screened.
•Report increased mosquito activity, sources of standing water, and green pools to the District at (626) 814-9466 or online at www.SGVmosquito.org.

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is a public health agency formed in 1989 to protect residents against vector-borne diseases. The District provides enhanced mosquito and vector control services to 23 cities and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County within the San Gabriel Valley.

The District encourages the public to help identify WNV “hot spots” by reporting dead birds to the WNV Hotline at (877) WNV-BIRD ((877) 968-2473) or online at www.westnile.ca.gov.

For more information please visit the District’s website at www.SGVmosquito.org and follow on social media @SGVmosquito.