April 7, 2005

Life in the ‘hot spot’

Silicon Valley pegged to be West Nile virus hot spot this year

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

With symptoms that include fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, and skin rash, contracting the West Nile virus is no picnic.

For some, it is only the beginning of a lengthy road to recovery that could span weeks—even months. Yet, until last year, Santa Clara County had remained quietly off the mosquito radar. That’s all about to change.

According to Santa Clara County Vector Control [SCCVC] Community Resource specialist Kriss Costa, Northern and Central California, specifically Silicon Valley is pegged to be the West Nile virus hot spot this year and the only way to effectively battle it is through community outreach.

Mosquito season has arrived early and Silicon Valley looks to be the West Nile virus “hot spot” this year.

“It is paramount,” she says. “Because we are limited in our personnel, we try to educate the public on what they can do to help us and themselves. When it comes to mosquitoes and West Nile virus, the public plays a real big part.”

In 1999, New York became the first state in the U.S. hit by the West Nile virus. Since then, it has spread to 46 states, Canada, and Mexico. By 2001, 149 cases had been reported and 18 people died.

Fast-forward to 2003, where 9,800 cases were reported and 284 people lost their lives. In just four years, the aggressive virus had become a coast-to-coast concern, making it the fastest moving vector-born disease on record. That year, Denver, Colorado was the hot spot. Last year, Southern California, with over 800 documented cases took over the title and now it’s our turn.

“As of January, we had our first positive bird with West Nile Virus,” says Costa. “Last year, we didn’t get that until July. We already had mosquitoes in houses feeding on humans last month. We normally don’t get that until April or May. We are expecting to loose about 80 percent of the crow population this year.”

She adds that the recent influx in wet weather coupled with a mild climate this year will make staying a step ahead of the virus especially tough. Add that to a staff at one quarter capacity and a freeze on hiring, Vector Control is bracing themselves to cut back on other programs if necessary to fight off what Costa says is “one of the biggest diseases to come our way.”

“We haven’t had a lot of real cold weather,” Costa explains. “The water temperature never got below 50 degrees in most of the big source areas.”

One of the biggest recommendations Costa has is to encourage residents to use Vector Control for assistance in keeping the mosquito population down. SCCVC also provides free home and yard inspections for mosquito sources as well as free mosquito-eating fish to interested callers.

“We’re working real hard to protect your health and your family’s,” she said. “But we need your help. We have a grip on where the big sources are, but not what’s in your back yard or your neighbor’s back yard.

For more information, call SCCVC at (408) 792-5010 or (800) 675-1155 or log on to http://www.sccvector.org, http://www.westnile.ca.gov, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile or http://www.sccphd.org.

Top 10 prevention tips

While relatively few mosquitoes actually carry the West Nile virus, prevention is critical to avoid becoming one of the few who will get infected. Below are our 10 essential ways to help limit your exposure:

- When going outdoors into mosquito-borne areas, use insect repellents containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Try to wear light colored clothing—long sleeves, long pants, and socks when possible.

- Mosquitoes may bite through thinner fabrics and added protection can be obtained by spraying clothes with DEET or a permethrin repellent. However, DO NOT apply permethrin repellents directly to the skin.

- Make a habit of replacing the water in pet dishes and birdbaths on a weekly basis.

- Install screens on windows and doors.

- Spray the outside of your home, including windows and screens with a permethrin repellent. “Anything,” Costa says, “that ends in ‘thryn.’”

- If you have a swimming pool, keep the filter running at least two hours each day. Chlorine does not kill mosquitoes, water movement does as they cannot swim and will drown. Likewise, keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when not in use.

- Hunt out standing water, the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check spas, tires, boats, buckets, and gutters—anything that might contain standing water and eliminate the source. Remember, One tablespoon of water can produce thousands of mosquitoes that in warm weather will develop from egg to biting adults in one week or less.

- Drill drainage holes in tire swings for water to drain out.

- For standing water in other outdoor areas near your home, such as ponds, water gardens, unused swimming pools, tree holes, rain barrels, and animal watering troughs, mosquito donuts or “dunks” provide a safe inhibitor to the breeding cycle and is non-toxic to children, pets, fish, and wildlife. Most hardware stores carry them in packages of two for around $8. Each will treat up to 100 square feet of coverage area for 30 days or longer under typical environmental conditions. They can also be used indoors in areas that collect water from time to time, such as elevator shafts, sump pumps, and drainage areas within buildings.

- For ponds and water gardens, mosquito fish have also proven to be an environmentally friendly, and extremely effective way of controlling mosquitoes. Vector Control will even provide you with the fish and bring them to your door—for free.