Mosquito Control in Albany--West Nile Virus Update (8/13/2015)

Mosquito Control in Albany—West Nile Virus Update (8/13/2015)

West Nile Virus (WNV) activity continues to increase throughout California. At this time, there have been 18 diagnosed human cases of WNV, with one fatality. Last Year at this time, we had 57 human cases with four fatalities. We hope that this lower-than-last-year trend continues.

In the surveillance realm, so far, there have been 372 birds detected with WNV, seven of which were detected in the Fremont area (none in Albany); this is much less than the 705 positive birds last year at this time. The state of California “Dead Bird Surveillance Program” continues to be the best way to determine if WNV is active in any given area. The public are the “eyes and ears” of this surveillance component. If you happen to come across a dead bird, and if there is not obvious trauma (run over, or injured), these found birds can be reported to the Dead Bird Program at the web site: http://www.westnile.ca.gov/report_wnv.php or by calling in at: 877-968-2473. The specimen is evaluated, and if determined “testable”, someone will be dispatched locally to collect the bird for virus testing.

WNV is spread when a bird infected with the virus migrates into an area, and the local mosquitos feed on this infected bird. The virus picked up from the infected bird replicates many times in the mosquito, the mosquito then feeds on other birds, animals, or people—thus spreading the infection.

So far this year we have trapped very few mosquitoes in Albany and only had three requests for service related to mosquitoes—two of them were for mosquito fish for ornamental ponds. The good thing for residents of Albany is that the cool climate is not favorable for most mosquito species, but this is no reason to let our guard down.

Please report mosquito sightings, standing pools of water or dead birds in Albany to your Vector Control Services District: 510-567-6800, or make a request for service from our website: http://www.acvcsd.org

Sincerely,

Daniel Wilson

Community Relations Coordinator

510-567-6826