(August 19, 2008) -- A map prepared by the LB Dept. of Health & Human Services on August 19 shows West Nile Virus infected dead crows and WNV infective mosquitoes (both in red on the map below) have been found across the city from north to south, and are evident (thus far) in the eastern half of the city, particularly in ELB and areas north of the 405 freeway.

The map is consistent with reports on LBReport.com spanning several weeks, including a report moved by us before dawn Tuesday (Aug. 19). To enlarge the map and view clearer, larger pdf image, click here or click on map image below:

Health officials continue to advise LB residents to assume that the mosquito-borne virus is basically everywhere (even though the map may not show this yet)...because infected crows and mosquitoes may already be in additional parts of town and may begin showing up in the coming weeks. LB's Health Dept. recommends simple, prudent protective measures for residents citywide that we list below.

As LBReport.com first reported before dawn Tuesday (Aug. 19), the Greater L.A. County Vector Control District (GLACVCD), which handles mosquito control in areas north of PCH, east of Lakewood Blvd. said it's seen an increase in the number of dead crows in its territory over the past week, another indication that West Nile Virus (WNV) may be increasingly likely among mosquitos in the area.

Suzanne Kluh, GLACVCD's Director of Scientific Technical Services, says the agency picked up roughly three dead crows today (Aug. 19), roughly eight on Monday (Aug. 18)...and during the week of Aug. 11-15 between five or eight dead crows each day, with about eight on Friday (Aug. 15).

Where were they? "All over really. They were in areas spread across zip codes 90808, 90815 and 90804," Ms. Kluh said, adding this statistical caveat:

"Increased reports of dead crows may not necessarily reflect increased West Nile activity although they often do," she noted. "The increased dead crow reports from LB may reflect a higher level of awareness among LB residents. They saw a high level of dead crows in 2004, plus the City Health Dept. is educating the public on the issue now, and so are some LB media. These factors may not be present in other communities so their residents may not be reporting dead crows as consistently as LB residents."

Or it may be that there really are more dead crows.

As reported on Tuesday (Aug. 19) by LBReport.com Community Correspondent Daryl Supernaw, a dead crow was spotted in the 6100 block of Atherton St., directly across the street from the CSULB Walter Pyramid.

Photo by Daryl Supernaw

24 hours earlier on Monday (Aug. 18), an LBReport.com reader advised us of a dead crow in the ELB area of Keynote Ave. and Monogram St. (east of Los Coyotes Diagnonal, north of Wardlow Rd.); we drove by, photographed it (it's in the gutter near the corner) and reported it to authorities.

If you see a dead crow, call the West Nile Virus hotline (1-877-WNV-BIRD) and they'll tell you what to do.

The ELB dead crows retrieved by GLACVCD will now be shipped to the Sacramento (UC Davis) where they'll be tested for WNV. The mosquito-borne virus is invariably fatal to crows but leaves most people without symptoms. However, in about 1 out of 150 human West Nile infections, people develop serious neurological symptoms...such as brain inflammation or paralysis...which can lead to death in severe cases.

No human WNV cases have been reported in LB this year...although six human cases have been reported elsewhere in the GLACVCD service area (which stretches from southeast L.A. County to the SFV and Valencia). In 2004, an ELB woman in area of Wardlow Rd. near Clark Ave. died from West Nile virus after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Most important: the LB Health Dept. recommends taking some simple, sensible precautions to protect yourself and your family members and minimize your exposure risk.:

• 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.

Watch for further as newsworthy...and tell your neighbors about our coverage on LBReport.com, where we've been on top of this developing story from the outset.