County health officials combat infected mosquito pools
In Imperial County, two cases of Saint Louis Encephalitis and one case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed by residents in the Imperial Valley.
The county also had a resident die this summer, due to West Nile Complications.
The Imperial County Public Health Department is warning residents to stay protected against mosquitoes.
With hunting season starting in California on September 1, county health officials want to make sure to spread the word about mosquito bite prevention.
Mosquito pools in three cities in the county have tested positive for West Nile Virus and Saint Louis Encephalitis.
To combat mosquitoes in the valley, the public health department needs help from residents.
Health officials said killing the breeding source for these mosquitoes is vital, so they don’t reproduce.
” We will begin to try to determine where the source is coming from. For example for the city of Imperial, we believe the source was coming from the storm drains. We will do additional trapping and then treat those areas to knock down the mosquito sources that tested positive, ” said Jeff Lamoure , Deputy Director of Imperial County Public Health Department.
With hunting season approaching, county health officials said an influx of visitors is expected in the valley. Visitors that are not aware of the dangers that might be present in our mosquitoes.
“A dog’s water bowl, if it’s not being kept clean they will begin to breed in that water source, same with potted plants,” said Lamoure .
According to the county’s health officials it takes as little as three days for standing water left outside, to become the perfect breeding source for mosquitoes.
They advise residents to get rid of any old water that may be lying around their yards.
“There are certainly some people that for whatever reason are more attractive to mosquitoes,” said Stephen Munday , Imperial County Public Health Department Health Officer.
Munday said older people, pregnant women, and people with low immune systems are more at risk.
He also says county health officials are working to spread the word about mosquito prevention to people visiting the valley.
