The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health received confirmation from the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control testing lab that mosquitoes collected on July 21 from the Nuevo location tested positive for West Nile virus.
It’s not unusual for mosquitoes in parts of Riverside County to test positive for the virus, especially during the Summer. In 2019, three samples out of 655 tested positive for the virus.
The West Nile virus can be transmitted to humans and some animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most individuals who are infected will not experience any illness. Others will have only mild symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body aches. Young children, the elderly, or individuals with lowered immune systems are at greater risk of more severe symptoms. Anyone with symptoms should contact their health care provider.
The department’s vector-control staff has intensified mosquito surveillance, as well as efforts to control adult and larval mosquitoes in this area to reduce the mosquito populations and interrupt the disease transmission cycle.
The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health suggests the following tips to reduce the threat of West Nile virus:
- Protect yourself against mosquito bites by using insect repellent. Use a repellent with DEET (N, Ndiethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Lemon eucalyptus oil should not be used on children under three years of age.
- Dawn and dusk are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities during that time.
- Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitoes away from skin.
- Mosquito-proof your home. Drain standing water because mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places for mosquitoes to breed by draining standing water and items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools. Change water in birdbaths and pet bowls at least weekly.
- Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all windows and doors.
Contact the Riverside County Vector Control program at 951-766-9454 to report mosquito problems, request mosquitofish, and report neglected pools or standing water as potential mosquito sources. For more information, visit www.rivcoeh.org.
