July 24, 2008

West Nile mosquitoes create need for fogging

The Santa Clara County Vector Control District confirmed recently that adult mosquitoes collected from the 95130 Zip code area of San Jose tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).

“As part of the district’s ongoing efforts of surveillance and control of WNV infected mosquitoes,” said District Manager Tim Mulligan, “the detection of WNV positive adult mosquitoes will initiate ground fogging to suppress the biting adult mosquitoes in these neighborhoods.”

To prevent human cases of WNV, the district scheduled ground fogging to suppress adult mosquitoes in parts of Zip Codes 95129, 95130, 95070, 95008 and portions of 95032, 95117 and 95150. These seven Zip codes include portions of Campbell, San Jose and Saratoga. Weather permitting, ground fogging was scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, beginning at 11 p.m.

The area to be fogged is bordered approximately by Johnson Avenue and Titus Avenue on the west; Castle Glen Avenue and Doyle Road on the north; San Tomas Aquino Road, Superior Drive, Via Deste, Montezuma Drive and Burrows Road on the east; and Allendale Avenue and Pollard Road on the south. The area encompasses approximately five square miles.

A map of the fogging area is available for viewing at the district’s Web site at www.sccvector.org as well as an invitation to sign up for e-mail notification of any WNV activity in the county.

“It is important for everyone to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. People need to remember to use insect repellent at dusk and dawn or whenever they are outdoors and there is mosquito activity,” Mulligan said.