(August 7, 2008) -- Following-up on information first reported by LBReport.com, West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes -- first found in two locations in late June -- has now been detected in areas across LB (NLB, Bixby Knolls, Central LB, ELB) -- and the first West Nile infected dead crow has been found in LB (ELB).
At the same time, OC mosquito control officials report that the mosquito-borne virus is especially prevalent in parts of Central OC (especially the Anaheim area) with WNV infected mosquitoes and dead crows at lesser but noticeable levels in West OC (bordering ELB).
LB's Health Dept. says mosquito "pools" (groups of trapped mosquitoes tested collectively) have turned up positive for West Nile Virus in the general areas of Studebaker/Carson, Bellflower/Wardlow, Ramona Park North, Bixby Knolls Park, California Bowl and Hamilton Bowl.
The dead crow was found in the area of Clark Ave. between Atherton and Stearns in ELB.
The Greater L.A. County Vector Control District (which handles mosquito control in eastern LB) says the dead bird dates from July 21. A GLACVCD spokeswoman says a total of eight pools of trapped/collective tested mosquitoes have turned up positive for West Nile Virus in its jurisdiction: five "pools" were in areas along the San Gabriel River plus a location near ELB's Wardlow Park.
The Wardlow Park area is a few blocks east and a couple of blocks north of the area where the bite of a WNV-infected mosquito killed an elderly woman in 2004 (near Wardlow Rd/Clark Ave.). 5th district Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske (a registered nurse) recently walked door to door in the area to bring the latest information to residents' attention and encourage them to take sensible self-protective mosquito control measures.
Mosquito control experts say that by the time infected mosquitoes and infected dead birds turn up in one area, the virus may have already have spread to areas beyond. (Infected mosquitoes bite birds that become infected and fly considerable distances where they're bitten by new mosquitoes which acquire the virus and spread it further). Health officials say it's smarter for residents to assume the virus is now basically anywhere in LB, and residents everywhere in LB should take self-protective measures.
On August 5, officials from multiple southern CA mosquito control agencies held a joint news conference in Garden Grove and issued the following release:
[press advisory text] Southern California is leading the State in West Nile virus activity. Hundreds of dead birds and mosquito samples collected throughout the State's southern region have tested positive for the virus...The level of virus activity outpaces that of recent years and the risk of human infection in Southern California is the highest it has been since the region's 2004 epidemic...
The term "epidemic" is the one used by mosquito control experts to describe levels of infected mosquitoes and dead birds experienced in 2004. (At that time, dead crows became so prevalent by late summer in parts of ELB that officials stopped keeping count). Things haven't reached that level this year...but are of sufficient concern that officials urge residents to take self-protective measures (below).
In July 2008, LBReport.com learned that the first LB mosquitoes testing positive for WNV were collected in or about late June-early July in the general area of Hamilton Bowl area (PCH/Gaviota-Walnut) and the ELB area west of Bellflower Blvd. between Monlaco Ave. and Conant St. At that time, dead crows (bitten by WNV-infected mosquitoes) had begun turning up in areas generally north and east of LB.
We noted at the time that the two LB locations were near storm drains, areas where water can collect and serve as mosquito breeding grounds. Hamilton Bowl is a flood detention area and the ELB area near Wardlow Park is near a large open storm drain.
GLACVD mosquito experts have previously surmised that the San Gabriel River area and other flood control channels (which are prevalent in ELB and Lakewood areas) may act as sort of "rapid transit" system for WNV. The suspected scenario: infected mosquitoes bite birds upriver; the birds fly along the channels where they're bitten by new mosquitoes breeding in the area that acquire the virus and bite new birds, continuing the cycle and spreading the virus.
Most humans who are bitten by a WNV-infected mosquito and become infected don't show symptoms, the LB Health Dept. release says. The WNV virus' signs and symptoms in people "may include fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and headache...but about one in 150 may develop more serious disease, such as brain inflammation or paralysis. Persons with these symptoms should seek immediate care, the release says..and urges residents to protect themselves by taking the following precautions:
- Avoid mosquito-infested areas, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Eliminate standing water on your property by dumping or draining water in neglected ponds, birdbaths, fountains, buckets, old tires or anything that can hold water. Dumping or draining water will interrupt the mosquito life cycle.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Use mosquito repellant containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Residents should follow repellant instructions on the label. Consult with your child's pediatrician for appropriate concentrations of DEET to be used on children under the age of 2.
- Keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes and check to make sure your window screens are in good condition.
- Maintain all swimming pools in a clean and sanitary manner, with all circulation and filtration equipment operational and chemical levels within recommended guidelines; drain water from pool covers.
- Limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants to twice a week to avoid run off to gutters and around sprinklers. Do not over-water plants or lawns to avoid creating pools of standing water.
To view the LB Health Dept's WNV info page, click here.
To download a brochure with useful info, click here.
The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District handles mosquito abatement in ELB areas north of PCH and east of Lakewood Blvd.
LB's Dept. of Health and Human Services handles mosquito abatement for most of the other half of LB except for LB's NW corner...which is handled by Compton.
