COUNTY STEPS UP WEST NILE FIGHT.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer MOORPARK - As Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, approaches the most infectious time of the year for West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. , Ventura County officials are stepping up inspections and efforts to deal with areas that might breed mosquitoes. Authorities say the West Nile virus danger might be equal to or greater than last year when there were 830 human infections and 28 deaths in California. But it is still too early to tell and depends on a number of circumstances, including the climate, said John Brand, senior management analyst who manages the Moorpark Animal-Vector Control Division. Ventura County's first bird to die from the virus was found on June 8. ``In Ventura County we are blessed with a cooler climate,'' Brand said. ``Mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus tend to prefer hotter climates. Being a little cooler with coastal breezes puts us in a slightly better position. ``But the rains this year created more standing water. We trap mosquitoes regularly. This year so far we haven't seen a significant increase of mosquitoes in the area. We have increased our surveillance.'' Ventura County counted 24 birds that died from the West Nile virus last year. The county also had three cases in horses, out of a total of 540 infected horses statewide. In Ventura County there were only two human cases - less than one per 100,000 people - and no human deaths. This compared with 329 human cases in neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County, or 3.4 per 100,000 people. The highest infection rates in the state were in Tehama County, with 17.8 per 100,000 people, San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. County with 11.5, Glenn County with 11.3, Kern County with 9 and Riverside County with 7.2. The onset of most of the infections peaked in late July and August. Officials in Moorpark and elsewhere in Ventura County are also stepping up treatment of potential mosquito breeding grounds with pesticides that target mosquito larvae Larvae, in Roman religion Larvae: see lemures. . It's important to treat these areas frequently because the time for mosquitoes to mature after hatching has gotten shorter with the warmer weather. In Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. over the past month, mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus in water near the Assumption Cemetery along Fitzgerald Road east of First Street. Flocks of sentinel chickens are also tested regularly to help provide an early warning of West Nile virus, and officials rely on residents to report dead birds in their neighborhoods. The city of Moorpark, with its own mosquito abatement program, is in a unique position in Ventura County. This operation was established long before the city was incorporated in 1993, partly because Moorpark is a large producer of eggs. The old Moorpark Mosquito Abatement District was formed in 1961 to combat fly problems from several large chicken ranches. In 1986 Ventura County began providing vector control Vector control is any method to limit or eradicate the vectors of vector born diseases, for which the pathogen (e.g. virusor parasite) is transmitted by a vector which can be mammals, birds or arthropods, especially insects, and more specifically mosquitoes. in the rest of the county, but the Moorpark district remained independent, and the city eventually decided to continue providing vector control within city limits. Brand said city officials are happy with the arrangement, which gives them an extra measure of local control. ``Ventura County has an excellent program, as does Moorpark. We enjoy having the local control. Moorpark is the only city in Ventura County that has its own program. ``We cover a smaller area and make sure the requests for service are responded to. We came by it naturally, and we're happy with the program.'' Randy Smith Randy Smith can refer to any of the following people:
The virus appeared in 1999 in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and spread quickly across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , with the problem often getting worse the second year after its appearance. But what will happen in Southern California remains to be seen. ``It usually comes into an area and you have some birds that are positive. It just builds upon itself during the second year. You have more potential hosts that are positive,'' Smith said. ``We still have the hotter months to go through. It still remains to be seen if we're going to have a second-year surge.'' William Stratton William Grant Stratton (February 26, 1914–March 2, 2001), known as "Billy the Kid", was the Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1953 to 1961, succeeding Adlai Stevenson in that office. , manager of the Ventura County Environmental Health Division, agreed. ``We anticipate seeing more evidence of West Nile virus in the later part of July, August and September,'' he said. The majority of the human cases in the state last year (more than 700) were in four Southern California counties - Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange - but the virus was detected in every county. Ken August, a spokesman for the California Department of Health Services Department of Health Services may refer to:
``What we have seen along the East Coast (is) the numbers of illnesses and deaths are down significantly from what they were a few years ago. ... In Israel the occurrence is relatively low.'' He said about 80 percent of the people bitten by mosquitoes show no symptoms, and about 20 percent would have only mild symptoms, so less than 1 percent would have serious health effects. Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com |
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