For Immediate Release
July 30, 2003

Contact: Howard Sutter
(714) 834-2178

Virus-Bearing Mosquitoes Found In Riverside County

(Santa Ana) – The discovery in Riverside County of mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis has Orange County public health officials calling for precautions to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.

“St Louis encephalitis (SLE) is typically found in southeastern California during the summer, but its discovery in a neighboring county serves as a reminder that we should all do our part to eliminate mosquitoes and reduce our chances of being bitten by mosquitoes,” said Mark Horton, M.D., Orange County Health Officer.

To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses, follow these precautions:

• Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property. Any water accumulation in a flowerpot, roof gutter or other container that lasts a week or more can support the breeding of mosquitoes.

• When outdoors, apply insect repellent according to label directions.

• Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens.

• Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, such as at dawn and dusk.

• Wear long pants and long sleeved shirts to discourage mosquito bites.

No human cases of SLE have been reported in California this year. The illness is closely related to West Nile virus and causes a similar illness. While most healthy individuals may have no symptoms or just a mild illness, severe and potentially fatal illness can occur among the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. More information on SLE is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/arbor/SLE_QA.htm.