Due to the increased
activity of West Nile Virus in south county, and the imminent threat of human
infection, the district will begin some aerial applications in South
Sacramento, where the positive birds and mosquitoes have been found. The
winds have finally died down to where the planes can fly.
If you have further
questions, you can call the district 916- 685-1022
Here is an article
from the Sacramento Bee regarding the aerial spraying
South Sacramento
County to get aerial spraying in West Nile virus fight
Published:
Friday, Jun. 8, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 1B
Spells of warm weather in April and May coupled with late-spring rains are
blamed for the early arrival of
West Nile virus
in Sacramento and Yolo counties this year.
Citing high infection rates of birds and mosquitoes, the Sacramento-Yolo
Mosquito & Vector Control District announced that it will conduct aerial
spraying of 30,000 acres in south
Sacramento County
over two nights next week.
The area scheduled for treatment from 8 p.m. to midnight Monday and Tuesday
extends from Elder Creek Road south to Elk Grove Boulevard and from Bruceville
Road on the west to Excelsior Road on the east and bordering with Grant Line
Road.
So far this year, 29 dead birds and 42 mosquito samples have tested positive
for West Nile virus in Sacramento County, with two dead birds and two mosquito
samples in
Yolo County.
"We usually don't see it in Yolo County till much later," said Luz
Maria Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the Mosquito & Vector Control District.
Last year, the first infected mosquito samples in Yolo County were found
July 21, and the first bird wasn't found until Aug. 23.
With the exception of a dead bird found in February 2011, and considered an
anomaly, the virus was first detected in birds in Sacramento County last year
on June 21 and in mosquito samples on July 6.
"If the current trend continues," Rodriguez said, "it will
probably be a long and intense mosquito season."
The aerial spraying and ongoing ground treatments are attempts to quickly
reduce adult mosquito populations, interrupt the virus transmission cycle and
protect public health, officials said.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans, birds, horses and other animals by
infected mosquitoes.
The mosquitoes contract the disease from infected birds while taking blood
and can pass it on when they bite animals or humans.
Most people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes show no symptoms of the
virus, but about 20 percent of people who are infected develop West Nile fever.
The symptoms typically are similar to the flu, but severe symptoms may
include fever, seizures, weakness, change in mental status, paralysis and
death.
As in recent years, the majority of West Nile virus activity to date has
been found in the southern portion of Sacramento County, particularly in the
areas of Calvine and Bradshaw roads.
Rodriguez noted that the area includes agricultural lands as well as a large
number of abandoned swimming pools, creating prime breeding grounds for
mosquitoes.
The 30,000 acres scheduled for aerial spraying next week are comparable to
the 32,500 acres – 21,700 acres in the Elk Grove area and 10,800 in Wilton –
treated over two nights last year, she said.
Either a pyrethroid or an organophosphate insecticide registered for use in
mosquito control by the
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and California EPA will be used in
the treatments.
Insecticides may vary from year to year so mosquitoes don't become resistant
to them, but Rodriguez said all have been used in communities nationwide for
mosquito control.
Although most of the West Nile virus activity so far this year has been
centered in south Sacramento County, residents throughout the region are urged
to eliminate mosquito breeding conditions such as standing water and avoid
mosquito bites.
Officials stress that virus activity has been detected in other areas of
Sacramento County.
Updates on West Nile virus activity and aerial spraying are available at:
Residents can sign up on the website to receive notification of spraying via
email, Facebook or Twitter. Updates also are available by calling (800)
429-1022.
