West Nile Spikes Around the Country, But Cases Low in Santa Cruz County

The West Nile outbreak currently happening around the country is the largest reported since the virus was first detected in the U.S. in 1999, according to information released Wednesday by the Center for Disease
Control.

In Santa Cruz County, , one, an American Crow found in Live Oak, and the other, a Great Horned Owl found at the Summit. In 2011, there was just one bird found dead of West Nile Virus.

No other birds have tested positive since July but Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control says it is stepping up its control of vector species due to the new information from the CDC.

“We need to take precautions. It is a preventable disease,” said Paul Binding, manager at Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control. “We
are doing source reduction, like getting rid of standing water and using
mosquito fish where we can. We’ve also got workers doing trap  surveillance, identifying mosquitoes for testing and focusing on sites around where dead birds have been found. We want to break the mosquito cycle so we don’t have infected adults.”

Though the number of West Nile infected people, birds and mosquitoes for 2012 is high around the country, with 47 states reporting cases, a total of
1,118 people infected, and 41 deaths, Binding said it is typically low in Santa Cruz County.

“Our cool climate really helps,” Binding said. “It slows the progression and development [of West Nile] in mosquitoes and birds.”

Binding added that there has only ever been one human case of West Nile in the county and it was transmitted through an organ donation.

While other counties in the Bay Area , Binding says that Santa Cruz County won’t be doing that at this time.

“We haven’t had to fog in the county for West Nile ever,” he said. “We did it once in 1994 for mosquito nuisance but not since.”

Binding said that instead the county works to control mosquitoes through larvae and educating people on what they can do, including dumping and
draining standing water, using mosquito fish and reporting neglected pools in the area.

Here's what you can do to avoid contracting West Nile Virus:

• Prevent exposure to mosquitoes.
• Drain all standing water at least once a week. This includes gutters, plants, buckets, pool and spa covers, bird baths, etc.
• Wear long sleeves and pants outside.
• Avoid the outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are rampant.
• Use mosquito repellent and follow the directions on the repellent container.

Mosquito and Vector Control will also provide free mosquito-eating fish for your yard water features and unmaintained pools. To get the fish, contact Mosquito and Vector Control at 831-454-2590. Report dead birds and/or squirrels to 1-877-WNV-BIRD.