Lake Elsinore, Wildomar Residents Urged to Take Precautions to Prevent Exposure to West Nile

By City News Service:

Warmer weather means more bugs, including mosquitoes, some of which may be carrying West Nile virus, prompting a reminder this week from Riverside County officials about the need for residents to take precautions to lower their risk of exposure.

April 19-25 was West Nile Virus and Mosquito Awareness Week in California, and although no WNV cases have been reported in Riverside County this year, Department of Environmental Health officials noted that it won’t be long before mosquitoes are active.

In 2014, a dozen human cases of WNV were recorded countywide, none of which were fatal. There were 801 cases throughout California last year -- the second-highest figure on record -- resulting in 31 deaths.

Mosquitoes typically become carriers of WNV after feeding on an infected bird and can then spread the potentially lethal strain to animals and humans.

Those at greatest risk include seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms may never materialize, but can include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes.

Mosquito season in Southern California generally spans the months of May through October. To reduce exposure to WNV, residents are urged to:

• spend as little time as possible outdoors at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are generally on the move;
• wear pants and long-sleeved shirts during outdoor activity;
• use insect repellent;
• ensure door and window screens are fitted properly to keep bugs out; and
• -get rid of standing water, aside from pools properly treated with chemicals.

Anyone with concerns about WNV, mosquitoes, neglected pools or standing water can contact the Riverside County Vector Control office at (951) 766-9454. More information is also available at http://www.rivcoeh.org/Programs/vector .

(Image via Shutterstock)