THE FIRST BIRD CONFIRMED TO HAVE DIED FROM WEST NILE VIRUS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY THIS YEAR WAS FOUND EARLIER THIS MONTH ON NOBEL DRIVE ON SANTA CRUZ’S WESTSIDE, AND NOW A MOSQUITO WITH WEST NILE VIRUS HAS BEEN FOUND IN A TRAP AT NEARY LAGOON. WHILE AT LEAST 1 DEAD BIRD WITH W-N-V HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE COUNTY EACH YEAR SINCE 2004, THIS IS ONLY THE 2ND TIME THAT A VIRUS-POSITIVE MOSQUITO HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE COUNTY SINCE THAT YEAR. MOST YEARS WEST NILE VIRUS DOESN’T SHOW UP HERE UNTIL AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER, SO COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE URGING PEOPLE TO AVOID AREAS KNOWN FOR HIGH MOSQUITO PRESENCE….ESPECIALLY AT DUSK AND DARK.
ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FOUND ON: www.WestNile.ca.gov STATEWIDE, WEST NILE VIRUS DEAD BIRD REPORTS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THIS YEAR OVER LAST, AND MOSQUITOES REPORTS ARE UP NEARLY 45 PERCENT IN THAT SAME TIME.
THE DEAD BIRD HOTLINE NUMBER IS: 1-877-WNV-BIRD, THAT’S 877-968-2473.
RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO DUMP STANDING WATER SOURCES WHERE THEY LIVE, AND/OR OBTAIN FREE MOSQUITO-EATING FISH FOR THOSE AREAS OF STANDING WATER. PEOPLE ARE ALSO ASKED TO REPORT “DAY-BITING” MOSQUITOES AT 1 (831) 454-2590.
