| Frio Nature Conservancy |
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| FNC urges all residents to take the steps, outlined on our prevention page |
FNC WELCOMES ANY INFORMATION THAT VIEWERS MAY HAVE REGARDING THE WEST NILE VIRUS IN THEIR AREA - SIMPLY GO TO OUR CONTACT US PAGE - TELL US YOUR CITY AND THE INFO YOU HAVE WEST NILE VIRUS IS 100% PREVENTABLE TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THE VIRUS Volunteers are needed to help us in this battle by supplying photos of HIGH RISK areas in their locality, collection of guano for DNA testing, act as our liaison with local governments and educating the public on the seriousness of this battle. Interested? Contact us GOT A STORY? HAVE A QUESTION? WANT TO READ OTHER STORIES? VISIT OUR FORUM |
| Mosquito Image and logotype © Fight the Bite Colorado Courtesy of Tri-County Health Department - www.tchd.org Absolutely no reprint without written permission |
| SITE DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED BY FRIOCON.ORG ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2009 |
| The radar image, below, was taken on 4/4/2009 at 7:30 PM Red indicates the area of mosquito infestation, the brighter the red, the higher the concentration |
| LOCAL NEWS Courtesy of: |
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West Nile Virus found in Martinez
By Staff Report
April 6, 2009
A group of mosquitoes trapped in Martinez on March 27 have tested positive for West Nile virus, the
first virus-positive group in Contra Costa County this year.
Scientists at the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District cited warm winter weather as a
possible cause discovering infected insects nine weeks earlier than the first positive mosquitoes last
year, and for the first time ever, before infected birds have been found.
“The first virus-positive group of mosquitoes is significant,” said Deborah Bass, spokeswoman for the
District. “It means that mosquitoes have the virus and are capable of infecting anyone of any age, at
any time. Wearing mosquito repellent and maintaining or dumping outdoor water sources remain the
best precautions people can take. Residents can also continue to report dead birds to the hotline
which remain crucial to our surveillance and control efforts.”
One of the suspected mechanisms for the re-introduction of West Nile virus each year is that
infected female mosquitoes ‘hibernate’ over the winter and emerge the next season to start the cycle
again.
One reason for the infected mosquitoes to emerge so early this year could be due to the unusual
warm weather experienced in January when temperatures reached nearly 80 degrees.
Since the arrival of West Nile virus in Contra Costa County in 2004, 27 people have been
documented with the disease and two have died. Most people who are bitten by a mosquito with
WNV will not get sick; however, up to 20 percent of the population infected with WNV will get West
Nile fever. West Nile fever causes people to experience mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as
fever, headache, body ache and possible paralysis. Less than one percent of infected individuals will
require hospitalization. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most
susceptible to illness and death caused by WNV.
By Staff Report
April 6, 2009
A group of mosquitoes trapped in Martinez on March 27 have tested positive for West Nile virus, the
first virus-positive group in Contra Costa County this year.
Scientists at the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District cited warm winter weather as a
possible cause discovering infected insects nine weeks earlier than the first positive mosquitoes last
year, and for the first time ever, before infected birds have been found.
“The first virus-positive group of mosquitoes is significant,” said Deborah Bass, spokeswoman for the
District. “It means that mosquitoes have the virus and are capable of infecting anyone of any age, at
any time. Wearing mosquito repellent and maintaining or dumping outdoor water sources remain the
best precautions people can take. Residents can also continue to report dead birds to the hotline
which remain crucial to our surveillance and control efforts.”
One of the suspected mechanisms for the re-introduction of West Nile virus each year is that
infected female mosquitoes ‘hibernate’ over the winter and emerge the next season to start the cycle
again.
One reason for the infected mosquitoes to emerge so early this year could be due to the unusual
warm weather experienced in January when temperatures reached nearly 80 degrees.
Since the arrival of West Nile virus in Contra Costa County in 2004, 27 people have been
documented with the disease and two have died. Most people who are bitten by a mosquito with
WNV will not get sick; however, up to 20 percent of the population infected with WNV will get West
Nile fever. West Nile fever causes people to experience mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as
fever, headache, body ache and possible paralysis. Less than one percent of infected individuals will
require hospitalization. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most
susceptible to illness and death caused by WNV.
| To verify the above article The Frio Nature Conservancy reached into its vault and retrieved the radar images, depicting mosquito activity, on 3/27/08 at 7:00 PM and then on 3/28/09 at 7:00 PM for comparison. The images clearly show the article to be correct and FNC congratulates the Vector Control authorities for their diligent work in attempting to keep their population free from the West Nile Virus. |
Image taken on 3/27/08 at 7:00 PM
Image taken on 3/28/2009 at 7:00 PM
Martinez
Martinez