West Nile Virus Detected In Mosquitoes In Palo Alto, Mtn. View

West Nile virus has been detected for the first time this year in adult mosquitoes in Palo Alto and Mountain View, Santa Clara County Vector Control District officials announced Wednesday.

The discovery has prompted the district to schedule mosquito fogging in the affected areas late Monday night into early Tuesday morning to prevent people from catching the virus, vector control district officials said.

In a statement district manager Denise Bonilla said, “This initial detection of mosquitoes carrying WNV has occurred much later this year than last year.

“By this time in 2014, we had already completed 10 fogging operations,” Bonilla said.

People can catch the virus through a mosquito bite and may experience a fever, headache, body aches and in severe cases, neurological damage or death, district officials said.

There have been no human cases of the virus statewide so far this year, according to Bonilla.

The ground fogging work is scheduled from 11 p.m. Monday to 2 a.m. Tuesday. The treatment area is roughly bordered by Colorado Avenue to the north; Terminal Boulevard and Garcia Avenue to the east; Charleston Road and Middlefield Road to the south; and Cowper Street to the west.

A map of the fogging area is available online at http://arcg.is/1ClV3YB.

The public is advised to dispose pools of water in places such as flowerpots, cans and rain gutters where mosquitoes can lay their eggs, district officials said. Residents are also advised to make sure screens on doors and windows are secured to prevent mosquitoes from entering, according to district officials. People should avoid going outdoors during the dusk and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active, district officials said.

Anyone with questions on the treatment can speak with vector control staff on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at (800) 314-2427.

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