The Fresno Bee reported Friday that the first positive case of West Nile virus in Fresno County for this year was confirmed by health officials.
County health officials said the infected individual, who was older than 65, was not hospitalized but had body aches, shortness of breath, headache and fatigue.
In addition, mosquitoes trapped in Fresno this week have tested positive for a deadly virus in several neighborhoods.
So you should ask yourself: Am I cooking up a breeding ground for mosquitoes?
It only takes about a week for a mosquito to grow from an egg into an adult.
(Click on the video above to learn how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard.)
Mosquito Prevention Tips
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a variety of helpful safety tips found here.
Standing water and dark clothing are two things that attract them. The American Mosquito Control Association recommends that people follow the “3 D’s” to keep mosquitoes away:
• Drain: Empty out water containers at least once per week.
• Dress: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Defend: Properly apply an EPA registered repellent such as DEET, picaridin, IR 3535 or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
In addition, the Fresno Mosquito & Vector Control District offers these tips:
• Clean: Swamp coolers and water drains.
• Change: Water in pet bowls and dispensers often.
• Plant: Natural repellents such as marigolds, lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, garlic, basil, catnip, petunias and mint.
Joseph Conlon, AMCA Technical Advisor, also says, “Encouraging your neighbors to also eliminate sources on their own property is critical to a community-wide control program. Mosquitoes require water to complete their life cycle. If their water source is eliminated, so are their offspring.”
Mosquitoes Spread Zika and West Nile Viruses
Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. Their bites can spread deadly diseases such as Zika, West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis. There are no vaccines to treat them.
The California West Nile Virus website reports that the West Nile Virus has been was found in five people this year, including in Fresno and Kern counties.
AMCA stresses mosquito-borne diseases do not only affect humans — they also kill countless birds, reptiles, animals and endangered species each year. Awareness of these parasites — including canine heartworm, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Western Equine Encephalitis —is another important component of mosquito control the general public must embrace.
Have Your Yard Inspected
If you have questions or want to schedule an inspection to make your home safe from mosquitoes, contact the Fresno Mosquito & Vector Control District office: 559- 268-6565, [email protected].
