West Nile Virus Found In Dead Fremont Bird

FREMONT, CA — For the first time this year, the West Nile virus has been detected in Fremont, city officials announced Thursday.

The virus was detected in a dead bird found on Deep Creek Road between Emilia Lane and Nancy Place, city officials said.

West Nile, the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, is passed through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

It affects the central nervous system, can cause severe illness, and on the rarer occasion, death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Each year, 2000 people in the United States are diagnosed with West Nile. However, the number is believed to be underreported because most people do not develop symptoms or attribute mild symptoms to other causes, according to the CDC.

This year, mosquitoes have started biting earlier than usual, due to unusually warm and wet conditions.

The unusually early start to the mosquito season has raised concerns about a brutal bug summer, and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus, dengue fever, and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus.

Fremont city officials say the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District is adding more mosquito traps in the area where the bird was found.

The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District will also conduct enhanced surveillance and mosquito-control treatments in areas with standing water, officials said.

Fremont residents, meanwhile, are being asked to inspect their properties for any standing water and eliminate any possible sources.