State health officials found three dead birds in San Benito
County infected with West Nile virus, according to test results
reported Wednesday.
Hollister – State health officials found three dead birds in San Benito County infected with West Nile virus, according to test results reported Wednesday.
Local health officials have warned for weeks that the mosquito-borne virus was likely in San Benito, which before Wednesday was one of two counties in the state with no official reports of West Nile.
And although Santa Clara County reported its first case of human infection last week, no people in San Benito County are known to have contracted the virus. Other animals, such as horses, are also susceptible to the disease.
County Director of Nursing Muree Reafs said the birds were found in the northern part of the county, but that health officials suspect the virus isn’t isolated to any particular region. She didn’t know precisely where the birds were found.
Vector control officials with the state Department of Health Services tested birds here this week to confirm its presence in San Benito. Their results left Del Norte on the Oregon border as the only remaining county without West Nile confirmation.
“So they were actually testing more birds from our two jurisdictions just to get over that hump,” Reafs said.
The first official confirmation here, though, comes at the time of the year when it’s becoming less and less likely to contract the virus.
Mosquito larva generally hatch during the spring and summer seasons, according to Reafs. But she said that shouldn’t stop residents from protecting themselves. Prevention strategies range from wearing long pants and sleeves when outside to applying insect repellent containing DEET, according to the county Department of Public Health.
“Now we can breathe a sigh of relief that we have definite evidence that they’re in our county,” Reafs said, “and that people should continue to do what they’ve been doing to protect themselves.”
Although health officials throughout California expected West Nile Virus to spread throughout the state this summer, San Benito County doesn’t have an official agency to address it.
Reafs said the county has handled the virus’ threat appropriately.
“I think that the county is taking the responses that it needs to, and has controlled mosquitoes and (enhanced) people’s protective measures,” Reafs said.
West Nile Virus has been moving its way across the country since it first arrived in New York City in 1999. It first hit California, in the San Diego area, last summer. The virus originated in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Most people infected with the virus won’t experience any illness, according to county Health Officer Dr. Liz Falade. Less than 1 percent of people infected will develop serious neurological illnesses. And the elderly and those with lowered immune systems are most susceptible to illness.
Kollin Kosmicki covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566, ext. 331 or [email protected].
