West Nile Virus Precautions Urged
For Immediate Release:
June 18, 2007
Contact:
Deanne Thompson (714) 834-2178
(Santa Ana) - The first confirmed human West
Nile Virus (WNV) infection in California in 2007 was reported in
Kern County this week and serves as an important reminder to
Orange County residents to take precautions against mosquito
bites.
Twelve California counties have reported WNV
activity in birds or mosquitoes in 2007, including Orange, Los
Angeles, San Diego and Riverside. Mosquitoes can transmit the
virus to humans and animals. Since the first human WNV infection
in Orange County in 2004, the initial human cases in the county
have occurred between mid-June and early July.
“Warm summer temperatures create ideal
breeding conditions for mosquitoes, increasing the risk for
human West Nile Virus infections,” said Dr. Eric Handler, County
Health Officer. People 50 years of age and older, and those with
certain medical conditions including diseases that compromise
the immune system, are at greater risk of severe complications
from West Nile Virus infection.
Recommended WNV precautions include:
-
Emptying all standing water on your
property to reduce areas in which mosquitoes may breed
-
Making sure your window and door screens
are in good condition
-
Using insect repellent containing DEET,
picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, 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
Information on mosquito control
is available on the Orange County Vector Control District’s
website at www.ocvcd.org.
Other websites with helpful information about West Nile Virus
include:
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