Another batch of West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes was collected in Bellflower, the second group of infected insects captured in the county this year, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District announced Friday.
Vector-control officials noted that West Nile activity was off to a slow start in the county, but warned the warm weather still to come will likely exacerbate matters. The district noted that 445 positive mosquito samples have been collected in Southern California outside of the county.
The first positive sample in the county was found in mid-July in Long Beach.
West Nile is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms from contracting the disease can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea or a skin rash, according to the department. The symptoms can last for several days to months.
The district offered tips for mitigating mosquito habitats, including:
- eliminating standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week;
- ensuring that swimming pools, spas and ponds are properly maintained;
- changing the water in pet dishes, birdbaths and other small containers weekly;
- requesting "mosquitofish" from the local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds;
- wearing insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present; and
- reporting neglected (green) swimming pools to the vector control district.
More information can be found at www.glacvcd.org.
And for all you ever wanted to know about mosquitoes, read our guide here.
