West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week--April 19--25, 2015

West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control

Awareness Week—April 19—25, 2015

The warm weather and stagnant water that has not been flushed out by “April Showers” makes it very important to continue our vigilance regarding mosquito breeding and development in Albany!

The main disease of concern is West Nile Virus (WNV) that had a tremendous resurgence last year throughout the state of California, with 801 cases of WNV (1 in Alameda County), and 29 fatalities! This is the highest human case level since 2005 and the highest level of fatalities since 2004, when there were also 29 fatalities. All told, there have been 174 fatalities and 4,802 human cases in California since the 2003 WNV introduction into California.

West Nile Virus is a preventable by proactivity and personal behavior, such as using mosquito repellants, and avoiding the dawn and dusk mosquito feeding hours, monitoring your residential area for standing water, as well as effective mosquito control program I your City. Please help by reporting situations in Albany where standing water remains for more than three days, or you notice mosquitoes.

Albany also participates in the statewide “Dead bird Surveillance Program” and birds found dead can be reported to us at: 510.567.6800, or by contacting the dead bird hotline: 1-877-968-2473, or at the state website: http://www.westnile.ca.gov/report_wnv.php

Public participation makes an enormous difference in urban mosquito control, so join the team while we highlight “West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week”!