San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District – West Nile Virus Update

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District has detected West Nile virus (WNV) throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The District’s surveillance program monitors WNV in several host species as its early warning system to detect the presence of WNV in the community. The program monitors WNV in mosquitoes, sentinel chickens, and birds reported dead to the California Department of Public Health’s WNV hotline. The following is a West Nile virus surveillance update as of August 12, 2016.

Twenty three WNV positive mosquito samples have been collected from the following cities.

• Arcadia
• Azusa
• Pomona
• San Gabriel
• West Covina

Five WNV positive dead birds have been reported from the following cities.

• Altadena
• Monrovia
• Temple City
• Glendora

Since its introduction in 2003, WNV has infected more than 5,588 people and caused 229 deaths statewide, according to the California Department of Public Health. West Nile virus is now endemic in California and presents a public health risk every year.

It is critical that residents remove all standing water on their property to prevent mosquito production. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water such as neglected pools, buckets, miscellaneous containers, puddles, and ponds. Eggs can hatch and develop into biting adults in four to seven days.

The best precaution against WNV is to prevent mosquito bites. Throughout the summer, basic protective measures should be followed:

• Wear mosquito repellent and protective clothing when outdoors while mosquitoes are active (especially around dawn and dusk).
• Regularly inspect property to identify and remove sources of standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs and grow.
• Ensure doors and windows are properly screened.
• Report increased mosquito activity, sources of standing water, and green pools to the District at (626) 814-9466 or online at www.SGVmosquito.org.
• Report dead birds to the WNV Hotline at (877) WNV-BIRD ((877) 968-2473) or online at www.westnile.ca.gov.

For more information please visit the District’s website at www.SGVmosquito.org and follow on social media @SGVmosquito.

About San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is a public health agency formed in 1989 to protect residents against vector-borne diseases. The District provides enhanced mosquito and vector control services to 23 cities and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County within the San Gabriel Valley.