This winter’s wet weather has jump-started mosquito season and
that means it’s time to think about taking precautions to prevent
the spread of West Nile virus.
This winter’s wet weather has jump-started mosquito season and that means it’s time to think about taking precautions to prevent the spread of West Nile virus.
The virus which affects horses, humans and birds found its way into most counties in the state last year, including ours. Although no confirmed human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in San Benito County, five birds tested positive for the virus last year. And during the same time in the state, 830 people were diagnosed with the virus. There’s no denying the threat of West Nile virus is real.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-born disease common in Africa, west Asia and the Middle East, but it moved into the East Coast in 1999 and began appearing in California in 2002.
Efforts to combat the spread of the disease locally are hamstrung because of a lack of funding. However, the county has made some progress and will be placing larvacide in standing pools of water in areas where mosquitoes typically breed. While the county sorts out funding issues – and we suggest that Supervisors keep West Nile on the front burner – it will be up to residents to take sensible precautions.
Don’t panic, despite all the fear West Nile virus breeds and the ominous reports in many newspapers, the virus poses a relatively low threat to humans. According to the Center for Disease Control, most people will show no symptoms of West Nile virus if infected, and only 1 percent of total cases will develop a serious illness. Of those with a serious illness, less than 15 percent will die according to CDC reports.
The low instances of serious illness, however, should not be an invitation to press your luck. Everyone who becomes sick with West Nile virus has one thing in common – they were bitten by an infected mosquito. While it may be impossible to stop every mosquito from taking a bite, there are steps everyone can take to limit their chance of exposure and to slow down the virus’ spread.
The California Department of Health services recommends taking the following steps:
Use mosquito repellent containing DEET while exploring the outdoors or even just puttering around in the backyard
Eliminate all standing water where mosquitoes can breed
Get your horses vaccinated for the disease
Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts and other protective clothing
Inspect the screens of your home to make sure they fit and don’t have any holes
Inform the authorities if you find a dead bird that shows no signs of injuries by calling the county Environmental Health Department at 636-4035
No one is saying close the doors, lock the windows and draw the blinds until winter, but a little vigilance now could be well worth it to keep West Nile virus at bay in San Benito County.
