The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District this week urged residents to take precautions against West Nile Virus after two sentinel chickens and three more dead birds recently tested positive for the virus.
So far this year, 11 groups of mosquitoes, 15 dead birds and the two sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County.
The eastern part of the county has seen most of the West Nile Virus activity thus far, but one of three dead birds found recently was in Concord, officials said.
“The first positive bird of the year was from Martinez. Now, with a bird from Concord, it’s an important reminder that West Nile virus is not restricted to just one part of Contra Costa County,” said district Scientific Program Director Steve Schutz.
Two people in the county have been diagnosed with the virus so far this year, according to the state department of public health.
Since 2005, 70 people in Contra Costa County have been diagnosed with West Nile virus. In 2006, two people died from the disease.
Chickens are considered sentinels because when an infected mosquito bites a chicken, the bird can naturally resist the virus, developing antibodies that are detected in lab tests.
Both chickens recently found with the virus were from the Holland Tract in East Contra Costa County.
Some infected birds, especially crows and jays, are known to get sick and die from the disease.
When a mosquito bites an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected and transmit the virus to another bird or a person through a mosquito bite.
Residents are urged to take precautions to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Virus transmission can continue until average overnight temperatures drop below 55 degrees for a week or longer.
Residents can reduce risk of the virus by dumping or draining standing water, since the insects develop from egg to adult in water. Repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus are recommended.
Swimming pools should be chlorinated and filtered because just one neglected pool can produce up to 1 million mosquitoes and affect people several miles away, district officials said.
Residents are also advised to avoid the outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
16 comments
Why is it called the West Nile Virus?
Because calling it the China virus would be racist.
It’s actually a type of Coronavirus.
Yes ! ?
That’s racist !
To scare the living hell out of you so you will cower in place. 😉
Names come from where the first outbreak of that particular strain. I believe West Nile Fever was from an area within Uganda, a strain that originally split from a Japanese virus and a European one.
@anonogod:
Got it. So – like the China Virus.
@Trauma
West Nile virus is not a type of coronavirus, quit spreading disinformation. In reality it is related to other mosquito-transmitted viruses like Zika and dengue.
anonogod is right about the name – it was first isolated in Uganda (i. e. West Nile region). And it was named in the first half of the 20th century, well before the political correctness took hold.
I smell desperation
And it smells delicious. No mercy
Sweep the Wings, Sweep the Wings ! no mercy Sam.
How soon are they going to have us on “LOCKDOWN” and
“COWER” in place for this now???
Soon, I bet.
Don’t tell me we have to wear mask for this crappy virus.
You’ll have your mask for COVID, and then we will have to wear thick clothing covering our entire bodies to go outdoors… smh
Keep stirring the fear pot, media.
Someone in my neighborhood had it a few years back. It was horrific. Ya’ll talk about this stuff like people are making it up because I know that makes you feel more comfortable than dealing with reality, but taking precautions isn’t being a wimp or a sheep or a coward, it’s being a responsible adult. I hope you never go through these things you’re pretending are fake. These kinds of illnesses can happen to anyone, but you chances would be a lot better if you took them seriously.
Dead crow in front of my house on Saturday morning. Clayton Valley Highlands. Yikes! It was a big bird.
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