West Nile Virus Discovery In Orange County

LAKE FOREST, CA — With a detection of West Nile Virus in Orange County last week, and a case of Zika Virus identified recently in Long Beach, Orange County Vector Control is out in force.

Local officials fanned out Monday in the Orange County La Habra area to eliminate and pools of stagnant water and educate the public about the dangers of the West Nile virus following its detection in mosquitoes last week.

Thursday's positive test for West Nile Virus in a mosquito sample was a first for the summer months in Orange County. Dead birds infected with the virus were found in Lake Forest and Irvine in May and January, respectively, according to Mary-Joy Coburn of the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

People contract the virus when bitten by infected mosquitoes that get it from birds that carry the West Nile Virus.

This winter's heavy rains helped wash away typical breeding grounds for mosquitoes in the underground storm drains of many older cities, Coburn said, but left more standing water than usual in wetlands areas.

As a result, crews have been spraying mosquito larvicide over Peters Canyon Reservoir, Villa Park Dam, Santiago Pit North, Santiago Pit South and the Loma Pond.

Officials knocked on doors in the La Habra area to make sure residents know to get rid of any stagnant water on their property.

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