Riverside County

Corona Neighborhood Sprayed for Mosquitoes in Battle Against West Nile Virus

A Corona neighborhood was sprayed for mosquitoes early Wednesday as the number of confirmed West Nile virus cases in Riverside County rose to 65 - the highest amount in more than a decade, officials said.

A pickup truck mounted with a fogger sprayed Adobe Avenue, Mirage Way and Tumbleweed Circle on the east side of the city between 3 and 5 a.m., the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District said.

"It does go into the air and kills mosquitoes on contact. It's a very target-specific material," said Bill Van Dyke of the NMVCD. "We want to do everything we can to protect public health and to protect residents in those areas."

Another round of spraying is set to take place Thursday during the same hours in Canyon Crest (map).

Canyon Crest Treatment map 10-8-15

Last week, protesters blocked a truck from spraying a nearby neighborhood over fears that the pesticide could be damaging to humans, pets and wildlife. But vector control officials say their mosquito control products pose "none to very low risk."

Scientists have identified a new type of invasive mosquito not native to the area known as yellow fever mosquito - or Aedes aegypti - which can transmit dengue fever. The symptoms are similar to West Nile. Riverside County officials said no cases of dengue fever have been reported.

"The yellow fever mosquito is a little different in a number of ways. It does bite throughout the day, it prefers human hosts," Van Dyke said. "They will do genetic testing on these mosquitoes to try to pinpoint exactly where they're coming from."

The yellow fever mosquito may have arrived to the Southland from Mexico, Central or South America, or Africa, officials said.

"There's several regions in Mexico where dengue fever is endemic, it's just all over the place," said Michelle Brown, a vector ecologist. "The odds of travelers bringing (it) back and forth, and then becoming established in our now-invasive species, is very concerning."

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Vector control officials say most people infected will not experience any illness. Others will have mild symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body aches. Young children, the elderly and individuals with lowered immune systems are at greater risk of experiencing more severe symptoms when infected. Anyone with symptoms should see a doctor.

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