Kids & Family

Fogging for West Nile Virus on Tuesday

WNV-infected mosquitoes found in Mountain View move officials to spray in Los Altos and surrounding areas.

Adult mosquitoes that recently tested positive for West Nile Virus found in Mountain View prompted officials to schedule a fogging treatment for the surrounding areas, including Los Altos, officials reported Friday.

Ground fogging will begin on Sept. 4 at 11 p.m.—weather permitting—and is scheduled to last several hours, according to the Santa Clara County Vector Control District.

The general fogging areas are:

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  • North: Villa St. and Escuela Ave. 
  • South: Covington Rd. and Levin Ave. 
  • East: Highway 85 and Sun Mor Ave.
  • West: S. El Monte Ave. and Campbell Ave.

A live map can be viewed at http://goo.gl/maps/NZdmZ.

About 25 percent of the southern portion of the new area to be fogged overlaps the Aug. 9 treatment zone, the agency said in a statement.

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“The high level of (West Nile Virus) activity seen elsewhere in the U.S. indicates that infection rates for the virus can surge. Control of infected adult mosquitoes is intended to prevent a surge from happening here and to prevent human cases of (West Nile Virus),” said Scott Bourdon, Director of Environmental Health.

Areas affected by the fogging will receive information packets Sept. 1 and 2, and Santa Clara County Vector Control District staff will be available for extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. via a dedicated phone line/voicemail (800-314-2427) to answer questions and provide information.

The long holiday weekend poses greater concern for officials as people are likely to spend more time outdoors during the hours mosquitoes are most active, which are dusk and dawn.

“It's important for residents to take precautions over the long holiday weekend to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes while outdoors, especially during dusk and dawn. People can also help by draining standing water and reporting other sources of mosquito breeding such as neglected swimming pools,” said Russ Parman, acting district manager.

The Santa Clara County Vector Control District offers these tips to help protect against West Nile Virus: 

At home:

  • ·DRAIN or DUMP standing water weekly since this is where mosquitoes lay eggs.  Check items such as flowerpots and planter bases, toys, cans, leaky water faucets and sprinklers, rain gutters, buckets, pools, ponds, and old tires.
  • ·Make sure your DOORS and windows have tight-fitting screens. 

Outdoors:

  • ·Limit outdoor activities during DUSK & DAWN to prevent mosquito bites.  Those are the times when the mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active. 

If you need to go outside at dusk or dawn, or when in an area where mosquitoes are active: 

  • ·DRESS in long sleeve shirts and long pants, preferably of light colors.
  • ·Apply insect repellent following label instructions.

Additionally, the agency advises: 

Always contact the Vector Control District if you are being bothered by mosquitoes or know of a potential mosquito-breeding source.

Dead birds may indicate the presence of WNV and leads to the surveillance that detects the virus in mosquitoes. The district’s laboratory allows in-house testing for WNV and other vector-borne diseases throughout the year. The district asks Santa Clara County residents to report crows, jays, or birds of prey that have been dead for less than 48 hours and do not appear to have died because of an injury.  People who find those birds should call the State of California WNV hotline at 877-WNV-BIRD (2473) or atwww.westnile.ca.gov

Residents can visit the district’s website at www.sccvector.org to view a map of the fogging zone, read the latest alerts about WNV activity in the county, and request advice or services. 

For free assistance on mosquito control, WNV, or other vectors, residents can contact the District office by calling 408-918-4770/800-675-1155 or fill out a service request online at www.sccvector.org.


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