Key Highlights :
West Nile virus results in first year in Vacaville, Solano County, and Suisun City.
Residents demanded draining water and mosquito protection as a measure to prevent disease transmission.
Key Background :
Solano County health officials have confirmed the area’s first detection of West Nile virus (WNV) this year in mosquitoes, where Vacaville and Suisun City returned positive, August 4 reports show. Shiloh Church at Shiloh Road in Suisun City and Vacaville surveillance locations gave the contaminated samples.
While no human cases have yet been seen in Solano County this year, officials cite the find as an eye-opener. West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by a disease-infected mosquito bite and ranges from mild disease like the flu to serious neurological disease in the extreme.
Individuals are being requested by agencies to take precautionary measures in a serious manner. Some of the measures suggested are elimination of standing water in the vicinity of the house, application of insect repellant approved by health agencies, wearing long sleeves and pants while going outdoors during the peak mosquito season, and maintaining door and window screens. Elimination of mosquito breeding sites has been identified as the most crucial measure for prevention of risk transmission.
West Nile virus is an annual seasonal risk in California that occurs most frequently during the summer season when there are mosquitoes. The virus is maintained in the environment through a mosquito-bird cycle which human and other creatures acquire accidentally.
Statewide surveillance reports further positive mosquito samples in the past in the year, and thus WNV activity would be higher in the next few weeks. Solano County abatement personnel continued baiting traps, processing captured insects, and spot-spraying infested areas to destroy mosquito populations and slow potential spread.
The majority of people that are infected with West Nile virus are asymptomatic, but the individual can suffer from body aches, swollen glands, headache, or fever. In very rare cases, they can get meningitis, encephalitis, or even kill.
The Solano County find alerts citizens to be cautious, keep preventive measures in place and keep a watchful eye out, and report to the local authorities immediately in the event of dead birds or unusually high numbers of mosquitoes.
