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West Nile found in Sacramento-area mosquitoes |
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SACRAMENTO – For the first time this season, mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found in Sacramento and Yolo counties, potentially putting 1.5 million residents at risk, authorities said.
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District advised residents to eliminate unnecessary sources of standing water where mosquitoes breed. They also said to use mosquito repellent when outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk, when the biting insects are most active. Mosquitoes carrying the virus were found in Sacramento County last summer too, but they were in smaller numbers, according to district officials. The virus, which was first detected in the U.S. in 1999, creates flu-like symptoms with fever, aches and fatigue. Victims of the advanced form of the virus can have fatal neurological problems, such as meningitis. This year the virus has caused serious sickness in two California residents – one in Tulare County and the other in Riverside County. Information from: The Sacramento Bee Source |
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Last Updated ( Aug 08, 2006 at 03:17 PM )
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