(August 8, 2008) -- Following-up on information first reported last month by LBReport.com, we have now learned that the Greater L.A. County Vector Control District has found more West Nile Virus infected mosquitos in zip codes 90808 and 90815 (ELB areas basically north and south of the 405 freeway)...plus the ominous appearance of more dead crows.

This week, five dead crows from these areas were confirmed to be infected with the West Nile Virus. They add to a dead crow previously found (and reported by LBReport.com) in the area of Clark Ave. between Atherton and Stearns in ELB.

LBReport.com has separately (and unofficially) learned from a reader that two dead crows were visible roughly two weeks ago in an ELB area south of Heartwell Park between Palo Verde and Studebaker Rd. (It's not known whether these were reported, picked-up and tested for West Nile).

Unlike humans (most of whom don't show symptoms if bitten by a West Nile infected mosquito), virtually all crows bitten by infected mosquitos die, thus providing a visible barometer of West Nile activity in a particular area. No human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in LB this year.

GLACVCD declines to provide specific locations but does indicate that the five newly confirmed West Nile dead crows were from zip codes 90808 and 90815...areas which locals know have large storm drains in the vicinity, including Coyote creek.

GLAVCD and LB Health officials have NOT publicly liniked these drains to the recent West Nile activity...but GLACVCD (which handles mosquito abatement in the eastern half of LB) makes a point of treating these ELB drains, and others, on a regular cycle with materials that disrupt mosquito breeding.

In the past few weeks, GLACVCD trucks have been visible in the area, with staff treating both above ground and underground storm drains. The agency has previously acknowledged that various ELB and Lakewood area storm drains (including small underground drains) are well-known as potential mosquito breeding grounds...and says it monitors and treats them accordingly.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, LB's Health Dept. indicates that so far this year, collections of trapped mosquitos from six LB locations have tested positive for WNV in the general areas of Studebaker/Carson, Bellflower/Wardlow, Ramona Park North, Bixby Knolls Park, California Bowl and Hamilton Bowl.

A GLACVCD spokeswoman says only that trapped/collective tested mosquitoes have turned up positive in five 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 (several listed below).

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 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).

GLACVD mosquito experts have previously surmised that the San Gabriel River area and other flood control channels (which criss-cross ELB and Lakewood areas) may act as sort of "rapid transit" system for WNV. The suspected scenario: infected mosquitoes bite birds, which navigate along the channels where they're bitten by new mosquitoes that then 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, a 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.