West Nile Virus Update Given at City Council Meeting

The Diamond Bar City Council was given an update on the “busy mosquito season” during Tuesday night’s meeting.

Truc Dever, director of community affairs for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, spoke of the West Nile virus epidemic going on in the county.

“Los Angeles County is in fact the epicenter of the epidemic,” she said. “Unfortunately, Diamond Bar has been identified as a major hot spot for activity this year. That means that the mosquitos we are finding and trapping in this area are all coming back for West Nile virus; there are very high infection rates. If you are bitten by a mosquito in this area, it’s very possible it’s carrying West Nile virus.”

Since West Nile virus arrived in the area in 2003, there have been two other epidemics: in 2004 and again in 2008.

“There are higher numbers this year than in 2008,” Dever said. “14 mosquito samples this year, with eight in 2008.”

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District is doing its part to stop the epidemic by increasing control of known mosquito breeding sources and stepping up surveillance in areas with wild birds. The district is also working closely with Diamond Bar city officials to distribute information through the city’s website and newsletters. 

Another concern is the Asian Tiger mosquito, which first came to the U.S. accidentally in 2001 in a Lucky Bamboo shipment from Asia. These day-biters can carry diseases, including dengue fever.

“We are doing comprehensive surveillance above ground and in underground storm drains,” Dever said. “In the traps, we’ve only found it in South El Monte; it seems to be confined there now.”

For more on the meeting, check back with Diamond Bar Patch Wednesday morning.