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The Fresno County Health
Department has determined that mosquitoes recovered from traps on the
California State University, Fresno campus were infected with the West
Nile virus..
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease common in parts of Africa
and the Middle East that has spread in the past few years to North
America, where it is a seasonal threat that flares up in summer and
early fall.
Most people who are infected with West Nile Virus will not experience
any illness.
Approximately 10-15 percent of infected individuals will have only mild
to moderate symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body aches. Less than
1 percent of individuals will develop serious neurologic illnesses such
as encephalitis or meningitis. The elderly and those with compromised
immune systems are more susceptible to serious illness. While there is a
vaccine available for horses, there is no vaccine for humans.
The infected mosquitoes were recovered from traps in the Allergy-Free
Demonstration Garden just northwest of the Smittcamp Alumni House, said
Lisa Kao, the university’s environmental quality manager.
Traps at several sites around the academic campus and the 1,000-acre
University Agricultural Laboratory (Campus Farm) were being checked to
determine where chemical-control applications would be most effective.
Treatment of these areas will be conducted at 9:00 pm on Friday, June
29, 2007.
Mosquitoes trapped at Fresno State last summer were found to be carrying
the West Nile virus. There was no recurrence of infected mosquitoes
after the affected areas were chemically treated.
The university works continually with authorities to mitigate mosquitoes
on campus and on the campus farm, said Kao.
Areas that regularly have standing water -- decorative and instructional
ponds, stormwater and wastewater basins, drain inlets and farm fields,
orchards, pastures and ditches – are monitored regularly and treated as
necessary. Mosquito fish, natural predators of mosquito larvae, are
maintained in all campus stormwater basins and ponds to help prevent
mosquitoes.
The Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District, headquartered in Selma,
says people should take precautions against mosquito bites. The district
also asks people who become aware of dead birds to report them to the
district (800.821.1577) as dead birds can be a West Nile virus
indicator.
The state’s Web site devoted to West Nile virus makes several
recommendations to avoid mosquito bites and the likelihood of becoming
infected:
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Use insect repellent
containing DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus when outdoors.
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Wear long sleeves and pants
when outdoors during mosquitoes’ most active times at dawn and dusk,
especially the two hours after sunset.
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Make certain screens on
windows and doors fit tight.
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Empty standing water from
flower pots, buckets, barrels and other containers.
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Frequently replace water in
pet dishes and bird baths.
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Drill holes in tires used
as swings to prevent water accumulating.
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Turn empty wading pools on
their sides when not in use.
More information about the
virus can be found online at
westnile.ca.gov/home.htm.
Kao can be contacted at 559.278.6910 or
lisak@csufresno.edu.
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