![[File photo]](https://www.theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/WNV-mosquito-samples.jpg)
“We have been seeing an increased number of mosquitoes on the eastside of Lancaster again this year, so we have increased the surveillance in that area,” said District Manager Cei Kratz. “Since we have positives in three corners of the Antelope Valley, we can presume that WNV is present everywhere, and we advise residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes by using insect repellent and removing dirty, stagnant water around the home.”
As of today (7/28/14), the California Department of Public Health reports West Nile Virus activity from 35 Counties in 872 dead birds, 980 mosquito samples, and 39 sentinel chickens, as well as 15 human cases. So far the Antelope Valley has two West Nile virus positive dead birds and two positive mosquito samples.
West Nile virus is a potentially debilitating disease that’s transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Even ‘mild’ cases of West Nile Fever can cause patients enormous pain and discomfort for months.
To keep mosquitoes away and stay safe:
- Drain all standing water. Empty out small containers at least once a week, keep pools and spas chlorinated or drained, and repair all water leaks. Conserve water and prevent mosquito breeding.
- Remember that dusk and dawn are peak activity times for mosquitoes.
- Defend yourself by wearing long sleeved shirts and pants, and use mosquito repellents containing Deet, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535 when outdoors during mosquito activity.
- Turn on fans to keep mosquitoes away.
- Keep screen doors and windows in good repair and close them.
- Don’t use bug zappers near your patio – they attract more mosquitoes than they kill.
- Get FREE mosquito-eating fish (Gambusia affinis) for fish ponds, pools, and horse troughs.
- Vaccinate your horses properly.
- Report stagnant pools and other backyard sources to the AVMVCD.
Report dead birds by calling 1-877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473) or online at www.westnile.ca.gov.
For questions or services, contact the Antelope Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District at 661-942-2917 or visit www.avmosquito.org.
[Information via press release from the Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.]
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Eric says
Fun fact: Mosquitoes don’t “bite”. In reality, at the end of their “nose” is essentially a bladed saw, used to make an incision into your arm. Once an incision is made, the mosquito inserts two tendrils into the opening. One of these is a straw, it sucks the blood up. The other is a hose, injecting saliva into your blood stream to facilitate flow.
You aren’t being bit as much by a mosquito as you are being violated. Knowledge is power!
A Richard says
I spend many summers in the east coast, Canada, and the jungles of central and South America…. Mosquitoes are absolutely not a problem here, Mosquitos vector control is just a big government money maker here….. They literally drive around and spray crap in puddles….. Remember that years back they raised a tax to expand mosquito control here and used the West Nile virus to get it to pass….. Nothing scarier for the masses then a blood sucking flying bug you can’t feel biting you to make the citizens happy about this government agency…. But most anywhere in the world Mosquitos bite and people deal with it…… You have a better chance of getting sick many other ways then to add west Nile to your list of worries!
James says
Haha why do they spray puddles? How much did they raise the tax?
A Richard says
I can not remember what the cost was but I remember the ads about West Nile this and that and why it was so important to pass… They spray a chemical into puddles and other standing water that either kills the larva or makes it were the eggs can’t hatch…. It was a few years ago they really campaigned for people to report green pools and ponds and they threatened fines and other crap to people that had standing water….. Ha ha, now they want us to not use water….. And next year when the floods hit bad from El Niño….. They will tell us not to play in the water or drive through it….. Government always there to makes us safer….
AVMVCD says
First of all – the reason there isn’t a problem with mosquitoes here, is because there is an agency here that works hard on keeping mosquito populations under control. Yes, we spray puddles and other standing water, and as you correctly noted, that is to kill mosquito larvae, so they don’t develop into flying/biting adults.
The tax assessment is about $6-10 per year per parcel – that is the lowest of anything that’s on your tax bill.
I’m not sure how you can say that most everybody else in the world just “deals with it”. Have you heard of malaria (>200 million cases, >600,000 deaths per year), or other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, or chikungunya that affects many people all over the world?
If you talk to anybody who has been infected with WNV you may change your mind about it. Most people that are infected don’t get any symptoms, but the ones that do will tell you how bad this disease can be (see the comment below). There is no vaccine or treatment, so it’s all about prevention – and that’s what we are doing by killing mosquitoes, and informing people about it.
Felicia Day says
I got mosquito bites about 3 days ago, what do I do?
Eric says
Depends how long it has had to spread. At 3 days, I’m guessing amputation.
Ruben says
LOL
Fan says
Pull out an Avatar musical and then go see a doctor about those bites.
Felicia Day says
I’m serious, should I be worried? The bites are gone now
D. Knight says
The West Nile Virus is serious indeed. The good news is that most mosquitoes are NOT WNV positive and even if you get bit the odds are that you will have no symptoms. The symptoms usually come on very quickly so if you were bitten over 3 days ago I would think you’re pretty safe. There are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent WNV infection (except for horses – why horses and not people IDK). Fortunately, most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms. Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness. Several people in the AV got seriously sick last year – including my wife, and several people died. The symptoms are flu like and can actually occur in different areas of the body – legs, arms, etc. The biggest danger is that it doesn’t develop into meningitis. If you have any of these symptoms headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, or paralysis you should see a doctor immediately! People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease are also at greater risk for serious illness. Recovery from severe disease may take several weeks or months. Some of the neurologic effects may be permanent. About 10 percent of people who develop neurologic infection due to West Nile virus will die.
Vic says
Damn if that is the good news I am not looking foreword to the bad news!