RAIN INCREASES WEST NILE RISK STANDING WATER BREEDING GROUND FOR MOSQUITOES.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer With near-record rainfall followed by hotter weather, California and 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 could buck the national trend by having heavy, back-to-back 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. seasons, authorities said Monday. Last year, Los Angeles County was the epicenter of the state's outbreak, with 330 people infected. Statewide, 829 people in 23 counties were infected, including 27 people who died. That was up from only three human infections in California in 2003. ``Heavy rains create more standing water earlier in the season. And there are indications that those are already showing signs of mosquito production,'' said Jack Hazelrigg, general manager of the Greater Los Angeles County 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. District. ``Our real concern is standing water on private property. We've got swimming pools with lots of rainwater in them and various containers in back yards filled with water.'' Although the West Nile West Nile may refer to:
Positive antibodies to the virus have also been detected in a sentinel chicken in San Bernardino County and in a mosquito pool in Orange County. A San Gabriel Valley The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and to the west of the Inland Empire. man who tested positive for the virus in early February will not be confirmed as California's first West Nile case in 2005 because officials are unsure whether he contracted the virus last year. Since the virus first appeared 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 in 1999, a trend has emerged with some states being hit hard one year followed by a significantly smaller number of human infections the next year, said Llelwyn Grant, spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. . Despite that the number of people infected nationwide has fallen significantly - from 9,862 in 2003 to 2,470 last year - officials say California might buck that trend by having two years with large numbers of people infected. ``We are expecting a fairly heavy year this year in California with a lot of activity in Central and Northern California,'' said Rosanna Westmoreland, spokeswoman for the California Department of Health Services Department of Health Services may refer to:
In addition, officials say they expect more cases this year in western Los Angeles County. Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, the county's public health officer, is scheduled to brief the Board of Supervisors today on preparations to combat the arrival of the virus. ``When you get heavy rains and hotter weather, certainly those are conditions that facilitate mosquito breeding,'' Fielding said. ``What is most important now is for people to eliminate any source of standing water, whether it's an empty flowerpot or a fountain that doesn't have recirculation Noun 1. recirculation - circulation again circulation - the spread or transmission of something (as news or money) to a wider group or area of water, or things as small as a tire outside.'' Last month, Fielding's office released a survey finding that 97 percent of county residents knew the virus was transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, but only 38 percent said they wear protective clothing when outside for extended periods. In addition, the survey found less than half reported that they drained areas around their home of standing water and only 20 percent said they use mosquito repellent more often than they used to. ``We want to educate the public and keep them informed,'' said Tony Bell, spokesman for Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Michael Dennis Antonovich (born 1939 in Los Angeles, California) is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District, which covers northern Los Angeles County, the Antelope, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, and parts of the San Fernando and San , who requested the report. ``This virus does not present a reason to panic, but it does present an opportunity to take reasonable precautions, which include insect repellent and ridding your residence of standing water.'' Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985 troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com AVOIDING WEST NILE The best way to avoid contracting the West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites by taking the following precautions: --Use insect repellents containing DEET. --Use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants if you're outdoors at dawn or dusk. --Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. --Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flowerpots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in birdbaths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used. CAPTION(S): box Box: AVOIDING WEST NILE (see text) |
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