West Nile 'Fogging' Starts in Los Altos Thursday Night

Adult mosquitoes collected in Los Altos and Mountain View tested positive for West Nile virus prompting officials to plan for a ground fogging on Thursday.

The Santa Clara County Vector Control District (SCCVCD) will fog the following areas generally bordered by the following streets. 

North side:

Rosita Avenue, Glen Alto Drive, Arboleda Drive, Cuesta Drive, Eunice Avenue 

West side:

Campbell Avenue, La Prenda Road, Quinnhill Road, and Casa Mia Way

East side:

Truman Avenue, Malbarough Avenue, Wessex Avenue, Austin Avenue and Grant Road 

South side:

Interstate 280 and Saint Joseph Ave.

A live map can be viewed at http://goo.gl/maps/uoyRA” the district said in a news release.

The fogging will begin at 11 p.m. on Thursday and is planned to last for several hours.

Mosquitoes were collected from ZIP code areas 94024 and 94040 and the virus was confirmed on Friday.

“While we're seeing a slow start to the (West Nile virus) season this year, the detection of virus in mosquitoes—in this case one in 75 mosquitoes were infected—represents a direct risk of human infection. Control of infected adult mosquitoes is an essential component of preventing human cases of (West Nile virus) and other mosquito-borne encephalitis,” said Scott Bourdon, Director of the Department of Environmental Health in a statement.

Since the arrival of the disease to California in 2003, 3,146 people have contracted the disease in the state; 110 of those cases were fatal. So far this year there are 11 cases statewide, with one fatality. Last season, the District conducted four fogging operations in Santa Clara County, and there was one non-fatal human case which occurred near a West Nile Virus hot spot.

Residents in the effected fogging areas will receive printed information about the fogging, and district staff will be available to answer questions during extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday on a dedicated phone line/voicemail at 800-314-2427.

— Patch Staff