West Nile Virus Alert : Diseases that are shared by mosquitoes are a threat to both San José and Milpitas. The Santa Clara Vector Control District has confirmed that mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus are present in three ZIP codes in these areas: 95035, 95112, and 95131. This scary news came from the County of Santa Clara. As a result, the district is quickly putting safety steps in place.
Depending on the weather, a one-of-a-kind device placed on a truck will be used. It will begin a mission on Friday, October 13, at 10 p.m. to stop the growth of the adult mosquito population. The press release says that the process at night should last between two and four hours. The district’s mosquito control program usually works on keeping young mosquitoes from breeding in still water. Still, when West Nile virus is present, adult mosquitoes must be treated immediately. If this isn’t taken care of right away, people could get diseases spread by insects.
The coming of warm summer and early fall months often causes a rise in West Nile virus cases. This is because mosquitoes are better able to reproduce during these times. The County of Santa Clara says that since the virus came to California in 2003, it has caused more than 7,000 infections, and about 400 cases have ended in death. In 2022, the virus killed 15 people in the state by itself. But 55 people died in 2015, which was the worst year ever.
The district has a program to watch for diseases like West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and western horse encephalitis spread by mosquito bites. You can make solutions specific to high-risk areas with the knowledge you learn from this program. The West Nile virus was found in San José and Milpitas this time. Action was taken immediately and effectively to protect the public’s health.
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The Vector Control District of Santa Clara says that adult mosquito control treatments are safe for people, animals, and the environment as long as they are done by licensed vector control workers. This means that people in the area should be safe during the treatment. The poisons used are known for having short half-lives and breaking down quickly in sunlight. They are given out in tiny amounts, lowering the chance of public exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency has also permitted these herbicides to be used all over California.
People need to take responsibility for their actions if we want to stop the West Nile virus from spreading. This means checking buildings for standing water regularly, emptying objects holding water, and cleaning birdbaths and pet bowls weekly. The Santa Clara Vector Control District encourages people to clean their gutters and take other safety steps. Bugs are most busy at dusk and dawn, so it’s best to be inside during those times. Wear long-sleeved, light-coloured clothes and use bug sprays with DEET, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, always following the advice on the bottle.
Our Reader’s Queries
Is there an outbreak of West Nile virus?
As of December 13th, 2023, EU/EEA countries have reported a total of 707 human cases of WNV infection in Italy (336), Greece (162, with 1 unknown place of infection), Romania (103), France (43), Hungary (29), Spain (17), Germany (6), Croatia (6), and Cyprus (5) since the start of the 2023 transmission season.
What are the warning signs of West Nile virus?
West Nile fever, a mild illness, can lead to a range of symptoms including abdominal pain, fever, headache, sore throat, lack of appetite, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
What states have West Nile virus 2023?
In 2023, the latest data shows human infections in various states and counties across the US. The data is sorted by state and county in descending order, with the highest number of infections listed first. Additionally, the data is sorted by activity, with the most prevalent activity listed first. Some counties, such as Alameda and Butte in California, have reported both human infections and non-human activity. Overall, the data provides valuable insights into the spread of infections and the activities that may be contributing to their transmission.
Where is West Nile virus the worst in the US?
The central great plains states, particularly South Dakota, Wyoming, and North Dakota, have the highest incidence rates. In 2012, Texas experienced a West Nile virus outbreak with 1,868 reported cases.