West Nile Virus Prevention Begins In Your Backyard

(Santa Ana) – Southern California’s recent rains have many health experts concerned about the potential for an early start to West Nile Virus (WNV) activity in 2005, and Orange County residents are encouraged to do their part in the effort to slow the spread of WNV.

“After each storm, everyone should look for areas of standing water around their homes and dump out even small amounts of water in which mosquitoes may breed,” said County Health Officer Mark B. Horton, M.D. Residential backyards are a common breeding place for mosquitoes, so individuals can make a major difference in helping to control WNV just by eliminating standing water.

While there have not been any confirmed human WNV cases in Orange County this year, one human case has already been reported in Los Angeles County. Orange County Vector Control District officials have detected the first signs of WNV activity in birds this year and say WNV remained active in the county all winter, though at far lower levels than last summer. California had the highest number of human WNV infections in the nation last year, with 829 cases, including 27 deaths. Orange County had the fourth highest total of WNV cases in the state, with 64 confirmed human infections and four deaths attributed to the virus. While it is not possible to predict how many WNV cases will occur this year, public health officials are concerned that abundant rainfall may result in higher mosquito counts and the possibility of a large number of human cases of the mosquito-borne illness.

Additional recommended precautions include:

• Making sure your window and door screens are in good condition in order to keep mosquitoes out of your home
• Using insect repellent containing DEET, always following label directions
• Limiting outdoor activity at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn.

More information about West Nile Virus is available on the Health Care Agency’s website at www.ochealthinfo.com, with information about mosquito control available on the Orange County Vector Control District’s website at www.ocvcd.org.