Press Release

 

Date:  August 3, 2000

From:  Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District

Contact person:  John Albright, District Biologist

Phone: 365-3768

Fax:  365-0305

Subject:  Mosquito District on the Lookout for New Deadly Disease

 

Health officials all over the U.S. are alarmed over the presence of a new and deadly virus that made its debut in the New York City area last year.  West Nile Virus (WNV) is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes that has historically led to human and animal disease outbreaks in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  It has recently jumped across the Atlantic Ocean to take up residence in the bird and mosquito populations of the New York area.  Seven of the 62 people known to have contracted the disease in the east coast area in 1999 have died.  The disease has also led to the deaths of 11 horses and countless crows, sparrows and other birds in 1999 and this year.  Since its discovery in the New York area the disease has been detected in at least three other east coast states.

 

Since New York City had no organized mosquito control and surveillance program prior to the occurrence of WNV there, detection of this virus did not occur until after the human victims had already died and the spread of the disease by mosquitoes had naturally begun to subside due to seasonal changes in mosquito populations and behavior.  An active encephalitis virus detection program has been in place for about twenty years in the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District to ensure that mosquito-borne diseases such as the deadly West Nile virus are detected in nature before they pose a threat to human health.  Since the 1999 WNV outbreak New York has begun a mosquito control and detection program similar to the one already in place in the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District. This program has allowed officials in New York and surrounding areas to detect WNV activity and implement necessary mosquito control measures prior to any human illnesses or fatalities this year. 

 

Two types of encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) and Western Equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) are found in nature in California every year in the bird and mosquito populations.  When the occurrence of these diseases in nature becomes too widespread and mosquito populations are high these diseases can spread to humans as West Nile Virus did in New York causing symptoms ranging from flu-like symptoms to brain damage and even death in humans and horses.  Saint Louis encephalitis is closely related to the new and deadly West Nile virus strain.  Testing used to detect SLE would also detect WNV if it travels to California in an infected mosquito, bird or other animal as it did in New York.

 

The house mosquito Culex pipiens, which has been associated with the transmission of WNV on the east coast, is one of the most common types of mosquito found in the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District according to District Biologist, John Albright.  Insect traps set throughout the District keep constant tabs on the population of Culex pipiens and the other types of mosquitoes that can threaten the health of district residents.  To test for the possible presence of WNV or the other types of mosquito-borne encephalitis that commonly are found in birds, the District tests the blood of sentinel chicken flocks on a regular basis to detect the presence of virus antibodies.  In addition, live mosquitoes are trapped within the District and are laboratory-tested for the presence of viruses that may pose a human health threat.  Albright states that although mosquito numbers are high for the types of mosquitoes that transmit all types of encephalitis at this time of the year, no virus activity has been detected in either birds or mosquitoes in the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District so far this year.

 

In addition to surveillance for mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District maintains an active program to control mosquitoes by checking standing water sources and treating mosquito larvae in them as they are found.  District personnel have specialized training in products and techniques of mosquito control that eliminate mosquitoes without harm to non-target species and the environment.  Permanent sources of standing water that may generate mosquito larvae are also treated by the application of mosquito eating fish by District personnel. 

 

When high numbers of mosquitoes are found by Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District surveillance efforts and/or when mosquito-borne disease is found, the District intensifies its efforts and may use Ultra-low Volume (ULV) application equipment to apply specialized mosquito-control products over large areas of land to control adult mosquitoes before they can spread disease to humans.  The Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District also responds to reports from area residents of mosquito problems that may arise. 

 

In addition the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District maintains an active public information program including brochures, a web site, informational presentations, and a full-time biologist on-staff to answer questions about mosquitoes and other pests of public health importance.  Further information can be obtained by calling them at 365-3768 or on the worldwide web at Shasta MVCD Home Page  .

 

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