(July 28, 2005) -- Two collections of mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus have been found in Lakeood residential areas adjoining ELB: between Candlewood and Centralia from Bellflower Blvd. to the San Gabriel River.
The pooled collections (of 10-50 female mosquitoes) submitted for testing on July 20 turned up positive.
The Greater L.A. County Vector Control District will now be posting signs in Jose San Martin, Jose Del Valley, Rynerson, Monteverde and Mae Boyer Parks to notify residents of the situation. GLACVCD District Manager Jack Hazelrigg said in a written release, "Although there are no human cases confirmed in Los Angeles County to date, residents still need to take personal protective measures when active outdoors between dawn and dusk to prevent mosquito bites and West Nile virus infection." The agency doesn't discourage park use, but does warn recreation users to be more cautious of increased virus activity in the area.
As previously reported by LBReport.com, earlier this year the agency found several WNV infected mosquito areas southward into LB in an area roughly between Bellflower Blvd. to Studebaker and the 405 freeway to Atherton St.
WNV infected mosquitoes were also found in the Alamitos Bay Marina Marketplace area (and GLACVCD did ground fogging in late June in the nearby Bixby Oil Field area to reduce the numbers of the adult pests.)
As also previously reported by LBReport.com, officials from the CDC, the CA Dept. of Health Services, UC Davis and GLACVD met to discuss the situation locally and were still mulling recent data and awaiting more tests results at the end of the last week.
GLACVCD staff told LBReport.com that they're trying to determine whether the prevalence of WNV positive mosquitoes in the SE LB area represents a real hot spot locally...or whether it may simply reflect more monitoring being done in the area under a federal grant.
WNV infected mosquitoes have also turned up in parts of central LB and areas near Signal Hill.
Meanwhile, CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced (July 27) that the GLACVCD (areas include LB east of Lakewood Blvd., north of PCH) ($199,478), and LB's Dept. of Health and Human Services (most of the rest of LB) ($142,350.46), Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District (NW corner of LB) ($50,200) and the Orange County Vector Control District ($199,957)
will receive six figure taxpayer sums (previously budgeted) to expand mosquito monitoring and control.
In a written release, the Governor's office said:
Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Eliminate standing water on your property by dumping or draining water in neglected swimming pools, ponds, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, or anything holding water for more than a few days. This will stop the mosquito life cycle.
Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are active.
Use mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.
Pick up FREE mosquitofish at your local vector control district for placement in ponds, out-of-order swimming pools, and spas to control mosquitoes.
Report dead birds by calling 1-877-WNV-BIRD or visit www.westnile.ca.gov
For more information please call (562) 944-9656 or visit: www.glacvcd.org