PROTECT YOURSELF
Here are few helpful ways to protect your body and home against a mosquito bite, infestation and the West Nile virus:
• Use an effective repellent; Vector Control recommends one that contains the active ingredient DEET or Picaridin;
• be cautious and protect yourself at dusk and dawn, peak times for mosquito activity;
• When outdoors, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and other protective clothing;
• wear two layers of clothing when camping;
• fix any broken or bent window screens and screen doors;
• drain water around your home;
• repair sprinklers and faucets, and report neglected pools.
• Report dead birds and tree squirrels to (877) WNV-BIRD or www.westnile.ca.gov.
• File service requests with the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District at www.sjmosquito.org or call (209) 982-4675.
– San Joaquin Country Mosquito & Vector Control
The San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District may treat for adult mosquitoes today in two rural locations in the South County.
The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon in a press release by District public information officer Aaron Devencenzi “in response to increased adult mosquito populations and/or detection of West Nile Virus.”
The district will perform ground spraying along the Stanislaus River, near Division and Two Rivers roads, and west of Ripon city limits, between Austin and Mohler roads.
The treatment will take place either this evening between 8:30 and 11:30, or Friday morning from 4 to 6:30. The District will use Evergreen 60-6 or Fyfanon ULV.
The riverside area along Division and Two Rivers roads has been problematic this summer season. District officials reported the earliest detection of the West Nile virus after collecting two infected mosquito samples from a trap near the south county border on May 24.
The detection came just five days after a Manteca women suffered thousands of mosquito bites while stranded along the Stanislaus River.
It is the same area scheduled for treatment today or Friday morning.
West Nile Virus has been detected in 29 counties across the state, including San Joaquin County, according to the California West Nile Virus website. Only one – Sacramento – has reported a human case.
San Joaquin County has seven positive cases of West Nile virus detected in bird samples. “Positive” cases are birds with the highest levels of the potentially fatal virus and are a strong indication of current levels within the county.
To control the spread of the mosquito-borne virus, District officials will canvas the countryside either today or Friday.
The exact perimeter in South Manteca will be: Division Road, west to Two Rivers; south the confluence of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus rivers; and east along the Stanislaus River.
The perimeter for rural Ripon begins one mile north of West Ripon Road; west to Austin Road; south to Moncure Road; east to South Highland Avenue and Mohler Road.
