Mosquitoes collected from Santa Clara County proved they were infected with the West Nile virus. The authorities scheduled mosquito fogging in two areas of the city in order to remove the threat.
The District Surveillance Manager recommends the population to keep safe during today’s outdoor celebrations and to avoid mosquito bites.
The West Nile Virus
The infection has few or no symptoms. Some people can show signs of fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite, between 2 and 15 days after contracting the virus.
Most susceptible persons are those with a reduced immune system, children, elderly and people who have underlying medical conditions. In these extreme cases, the virus can lead to encephalitis, meningitis, or poliomyelitis.
The West Nile virus spreads by mosquitoes and birds are the primary infected animals.
Up until now, no vaccine was invented to protect against the infection. The only way to stop the virus is to control the mosquito population.
The West Nile virus was first identified in 1937 in Uganda, and it was considered a mild risk to humans. However, the 1994 outbreak in Algeria and the 1996 spread in Romania resulted in multiple cases of neuroinvasive disease.
At this moment, the virus spread globally. In the US, the 2012 epidemic caused the death of 286 people.
The treatment addresses the symptoms, involving hospitalization, respiratory support, and intravenous fluids. The prognosis is generally favorable; however, some severe cases can need up to 90 days to recover.
The Fogging Operation
The fogging was scheduled in the night between the 7th and the 8th of July, and it will take place only if the weather is favorable. The aim is to reduce the disease transmission.
The residents of the targeted areas were informed on the intervention, by door hangers and official notices either personal, and through social media platforms such as Yahoo Groups, Twitter, and SCCvector app.
The district staff has opened a line for questions concerning the fogging.
The officials say that relocation is not necessary. All residents have to close their doors and windows and to keep their pets indoors. People with chemical sensitivities should consult with their doctors.
Mosquito Bite Prevention
CDC recommends wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent to prevent the mosquito bites. The organization adds the fact that less than 1% of the infected people develop a serious neurologic illness.
There are several species of mosquitoes that each spread different viruses. The Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika spreading mosquitoes bite during the day, while the West Nile insects bite in the evenings and the mornings.
FDA approved several active ingredients that proved effective in insect repellents, such as DEET, Picaridin, icaridin, IR3535, para-menthane-diol or oil of lemon eucalyptus. The spray must be reapplied every few hours.
Clothes must be protected with permethrin. For babies, the crib should have mosquito netting.
To protect the home, use screens on doors and windows. Cleaning tires, buckets, pools, birdbaths, and flower pots can help keeping mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Image Source: Wikipedia