News Release
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District
Two More Mosquito Samples and Three More Dead Birds Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Contra Costa County
Residents Are Urged to Protect Themselves by Using Insect Repellent
For Immediate Release: July 27, 2006
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA - Two mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus at the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District laboratory yesterday. The samples will be sent to the University of California at Davis for confirmation of those test results. The mosquitoes were trapped in Oakley and Martinez. In addition, three birds from Martinez, Antioch, and Oakley have tested positive for the virus. To date, including these new cases, there are five mosquito samples and nine dead birds that have tested positive for West Nile virus in the county.
"This surveillance data indicates an elevated risk in the eastern and central areas of the county," said Carlos Sanabria, operations manager for the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. "We are urging residents to wear mosquito repellent, especially those products that contain the active ingredient DEET, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active."
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District technicians are working extended schedules to provide additional surveillance and control and will conduct localized fogging for adult mosquitoes, weather permitting.
To learn if the District is fogging for adult mosquitoes or for media opportunities, please visit the district’s website at www.ccmvcd.dst.ca.us or call 925-685-9301 for a recorded message.
Last year in Contra Costa County there were 11 human cases, 94 dead birds, 18 chickens, four mosquito samples *, ten horses, and 25 squirrels that tested positive for West Nile virus. So far in California this year, there have been six human cases, 151 dead birds, 29 chickens, 184 mosquito samples, and three horses that have tested positive for the virus.
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District is located at 155 Mason Circle in Concord. Call the District to report mosquito problems at 925-685-9301, or visit their office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to get FREE mosquitofish for ornamental ponds or horse troughs.
To report dead birds or to learn of your local mosquito control district, call the California Department of Health Services at 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473) or visit www.westnile.ca.gov
For information concerning West Nile virus symptoms, prevention, or testing, please call the Contra Costa Health Services department at 888-959-9911 or visit their website at www.cchealth.org
For information concerning West Nile virus and horses, please visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health Branch at www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/wnv_info.htm or call them at 916-654-1447.
* Mosquito samples: Mosquitoes are trapped, collected from the field, and then the females are pooled together by species. Each pool contains one to 50 mosquitoes. Each sample is tested for the presence of St. Louis encephalitis, Western Equine encephalomyelitis and West Nile viruses.
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