(July 9, 2004, updated) -- More mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus (WNV) have been identified in Long Beach.

In addition to WNV-infected mosquito groups identified last week in the Heartwell Park area (Carson at Woodruff, and east near the San Gabriel River), LBReport.com has learned from the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control district that mosquitoes in the vicinity of LB's Alamitos Bay Marina (2d/PCH) and a nearby oil field were identified in the past week as WNV-infected.

LBReport.com has also learned that in the past week, nine dead crows retrieved from ELB zip codes 90808 and 90815 were tested...and eight were found infected with WNV.

The ELB WNV-infected dead crows were retrieved from the 6400 block of Los Santos, 6400 block Willow St., 3500 block Charlemagne Ave. 3700 block Iroquois Ave. 3800 block Gondar Ave., 2500 block Knoxville, one near Stevely Ave...and one in El Dorado Park.

[update] The CA Dept. of Health Services web site adds that two WNV-infected dead crows were from zip 90807, and one western scrub-jay was from zip code 90806. Seven dead crows were from Lakewood zip 90713. [end update]

They join WNV-infected dead crows, previously reported by LBReport.com, from Rutgers Ave. between Spring/Carson, the 4200 block Chestnut Ave. and the 5000 block of Federation Ave. in Rec Park.

Minoo Madon, Scientific Technical Services Director at the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, urged LBReport.com readers to remember that the locations of dead crows don't necessarily mean WNV is exactly where the dead crow is found.

"The crow just happened to die there," Mr. Madon said, while noting that "what we're seeing clearly indicates WNV is present in the vicinity."

And Mr. Madon predicted WNV will spread further. He said crows normally fly roughly zero to twenty miles depending on their favorite food sources, and within roughly six to eight days after being bitten by an WNV-infected mosquito, the crow usually dies after becoming so ill it can no longer fly. When the crow sickens and begins staggering on the ground, more mosquitoes bite it, spreading the virus still further, but mosquitoes don't bite dead crows or any dead animal, Mr. Madon added.

The bottom line [LBReport.com's words]: the sight of dead crows is unnerving and disturbing; like miner's canaries, they are an early indication of spreading WNV...but the location of WNV-infected mosquito pools is even more significant.

LBReport.com has been told by other sources that at some point in the progression of WNV, so many dead crows may result that it becomes pointless to continue testing them, since it is clear WNV is present. (LB apparently hasn't reached that point yet).

The WNV-infected mosquitoes previously trapped in the vicinity of LB's Heartwell Park (Carson near Woodruff and eastward near the San Gabriel River) resulted in the posting of WNV warning signs in Heartwell and El Dorado Parks.

In the past week, mosquitoes trapped and pooled from northeastern Lakewood near Coyote Creek at the Cerritos border also tested positive for WNV. Coyote Creek empties into the San Gabriel River, which flows past El Dorado Park before emptying into the Pacific Ocean near Alamitos Bay.

A few weeks earlier, WNV-infected mosquitoes were identified in the area of Lakewood Golf Course, adjacent to ELB.

The mosquito-borne West Nile Virus produces no symptoms in most people, but generates flu like symptoms for about 1 in 5, and serious neurological illnesses (including meningitis) requiring hospitalization for about 1 in 150 bitten by a WNV-infected mosquito, occasionally leading to death.

Data above were graciously provided to LBReport.com at late afternoon July 9 by Mr. Madon at GLACVCD. The agency handles mosquito abatement for much of L.A. County, including nearly half of LB (east of Lakewood Blvd., north of PCH). Mosquito and dead crow data were conveyed to GLACVCD by the CA Dept. of Health and Human Services; the Alamitos Bay Marina area mosquito information was conveyed to GLACVCD by LB's Dept. of Health; dead crow data are from areas within GLACVCD's ELB service area; dead crow data from the rest of LB is pending.

The term mosquito "pool" has also baffled some readers. The term comes from the testing process. Mosquitoes are trapped, combined, ground up and "pooled" together for analysis; a positive finding means at least one mosquito was WNV-infected.

Further to follow as newsworthy.

Recent LBReport.com coverage:

LBUSD Sends Updated West Nile Virus Prevention Tips To Principals for Distribution to Staff & Parents; We Post Text

Kell Agendizes Report On City's West Nile Virus Efforts

West Nile Virus Watch: