West Nile virus
– the potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease that has move
inexorably across the United States since 1999 – hasn’t exploded in
Northern California to become the epidemic many people feared.
West Nile virus – the potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease that has move inexorably across the United States since 1999 – hasn’t exploded in Northern California to become the epidemic many people feared.
State officials warned that Northern California could be hit especially hard this year, and people scrambled to put protective measures in place. In San Benito County, there was a great hue and cry when it was discovered that there is no mosquito vector control agency to keep the flying bloodsuckers that transmit the virus to horses, humans and birds under control. County officials enacted limited mosquito abatement measures and spread the word about the virus and how to avoid it.
So far, more than halfway through mosquito season, the threat has yet to materialize in a significant way. In San Benito County only one bird has tested positive for the disease, and the number of human infections are down across the state. To date, there have been 134 human cases and four deaths reported. By comparison, in 2004, 28 people in California died from the disease and 779 human cases were reported to the Center for Disease Control.
For that drop-off, we all can be thankful.
We’re not sure why the disease hasn’t been as bad as predicted this year – perhaps people heeded the warnings and took the proper precautions, or perhaps the media overhyped a tantalizing story – but, last week, San Benito County Agricultural Commissioner Paul Matulich provided some perspective.
“West Nile is something new. Ten times as many people die in the United States every year from the regular flu than West Nile,” Matulich told reporter Erin Musgrave. “It’s something exotic; it’s kind of been blown out of proportion.”
That’s probably so, but mosquito season is not over yet. While we’re glad to see West Nile has not turned into a calamity for San Benito County or the state, residents should not let their guard down:
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
With continued vigilance and a little luck, San Benito County will keep West Nile at bay this year.
