ADVISORY/State Health, Mosquito Abatement Officials to Join Metropolitan in Asking Southland Residents to Prevent Spread of West Nile Virus by Reducing Outdoor Water Use.

News Editors/Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Tuesday (Aug. 26)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:    Just days after the first evidence of the West Nile virus in
         California this year was discovered, officials from the state
         Department of Health Services and the Mosquito Vector Control
         Association of California join the Metropolitan Water
         District of Southern California in asking residents to reduce
         outdoor water use to help prevent spread of the virus.

WHEN:    Tuesday, Aug. 26
         1 p.m.

WHERE:   Metropolitan's headquarters, 700 N. Alameda St., adjacent
         to Union Station, downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles County
         Thomas Guide, page 634, G-3); validated media parking
         available in station's Lot A

PARTICIPANTS:

         Diana Bonta, director, California Department of Health
           Services;

         Christopher J. Voight, executive director, Mosquito Vector
           Control Association of California;

         Phillip J. Pace, chairman, Metropolitan board of directors

BACKGROUND:

         The first evidence of West Nile virus in California this year
         was found in mosquitoes collected in Imperial County on Aug.
         20. The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through a
         mosquito bite. Since baby mosquitoes need standing water to
         live, Southern Californians are urged to reduce outdoor water
         use and prevent water collection and puddling.

         State health and mosquito abatement officials will endorse
         Metropolitan's on-going multi-million-dollar advertisement
         campaign, which encourages outdoor water conservation.
         Metropolitan has agreed to modify a portion of the campaign's
         public service announcements and traffic report sponsorships
         to incorporate the mosquito control message.