The West Nile Virus has been confirmed in areas all around San
Benito County, and although there haven’t been any reported
instances within the county, officials are working toward
contracting with a neighboring county to get a mosquito abatement
program in place.
The West Nile Virus has been confirmed in areas all around San Benito County, and although there haven’t been any reported instances within the county, officials are working toward contracting with a neighboring county to get a mosquito abatement program in place.
Officials in Gilroy confirmed a dead bird was infected with the virus last Friday, and although about four or five birds have been sent from San Benito County to the state lab in Richmond to be tested, they have all come back negative, said Dr. Elizabeth Falade, the county’s lead health official.
“I can’t say what will happen or what’s coming next, but there’s no reason why we would be immune,” Falade said.
San Benito County has no mosquito abatement program in place, but officials are talking about contracting with North Monterey County, which has trained mosquito abatement experts, Falade said.
“We would like to have something in San Benito, but it takes staff training, money, all the things we’re in short supply of,” she said. “Once things really start happening, I don’t know if other counties will have the time. We would like to have something in place as soon as possible.”
Contracting with another county that already has all the equipment and expertise in place would be much cheaper than forming a new mosquito abatement district, which would require county residents to pay a tax, said Agricultural Commissioner Paul Matulich.
“It all depends on what happens,” Matulich said. “If it hangs on and causes a problem, something will probably have to be done. But if it’s something that passes through and dies down, then people wouldn’t have a problem.”
Health department heads will be meeting soon with County Administrative Officer Dan Vrtis to talk about a contract, how much it would cost and other options concerning mosquito abatement, Falade said.
That meeting should take place no later than the end of this month, Vrtis said.
“We’ll talk about (contracting) as an option… but when you look at vector control, we’re looking at next year, not this year,” Vrtis said, “because mosquito season is supposed to be over.”
The county will definitely be taking some preventative and proactive measures to deal with the virus in the future, he said.
The mosquito-borne virus has been detected in many species, but it usually only affects humans, birds and horses. The virus can cause no symptoms, flu-like symptoms such as nausea or body aches, and in rare cases can cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can lead to death.
All of veterinarian Roger Bruce’s clients have vaccinated their horses to prevent them from contracting the virus, he said.
Horses are the only animals that have a vaccine available to them. The vaccinations involve a series of two shots that cost about $25 and are very effective, Bruce said.
Bruce said he doesn’t know of any cases of the virus in horses, but believes it’s here.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a bird sitting in the lab that came from San Benito County that they haven’t got to yet,” Bruce said. “If it isn’t here now, it will be (soon).”
Matulich said when birds are sent to the lab technicians test them as quickly as possible, but there could be a bird out there that has the virus and hasn’t been found, or the virus could skip over the county completely.
“It’s a flip of a coin deal whether we get it or not,” Matulich said. “Hopefully we don’t get anything – that will make life a whole lot simpler.”
People are urged to drain all pools of standing water that could be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
To report a dead bird, either leave it where it fell or pick it up wearing plastic gloves, put it in a sealed paper bag and call 1-877-WNV-BIRD.
For more information on the West Nile Virus locally, contact the San Benito County Public Health Department at (831) 637-5367, or online at www.westnile.ca.gov.
Help stop the spread of West Nile Virus
Report dead birds by calling
1-877-WNV-BIRD.
Drain all standing water on private property and stock permanent ponds with fish that eat mosquito larvae or use mosquito dunks. Don’t forget about horse troughs.
Make sure roof
gutters drain
properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
