West Nile Virus and Humboldt County Mosquitoes
Here are some practical steps you can take to reduce your family's risk of exposure to the West Nile virus:
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Reduce breeding sources around the home and neighborhood. Residents and guests are encouraged to Kick the Bucket, that is, remove "standing water" that acts as a breeding source for mosquitoes. These sources may include:
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Neglected wading pools, hot tubs, birdbaths, & fishponds. Boats that are left uncovered and have water in the bottom. Tires not stored under cover that have collected water. Leaf clogged rain gutters and rain barrels. Buckets, flower pots, or any object that holds water
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Change water in horse troughs and other containers once a week. Practice balanced pond ecology using frogs, minnows, ornamental koi, or goldfish that devour mosquito larvae. Encourage habitat for swallows, dragonflies, and bats that eat adult mosquitoes.
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You should also Fight the Bite. Limit activities at dawn and dusk when biting mosquitoes are most likely to be active. Wear long clothes that protect arms and legs. Use mosquito repellants containing DEET (according to label directions) to insure protection when out-of-doors at times when mosquitoes are biting.
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Advise the Division of Environmental Health when you detect a large concentration of mosquitoes, or see a condition that may act as breeding sources such as a tire pile or neglected swimming pool. Participate in the dead bird reporting program (1-877-WNV-BIRD).
For additional information about local mosquito monitoring, contact the Humboldt County Division of Environmental Health at (707) 445-6215, toll free at (800) 963-9241., or via e-mail at bwhitener@co.humboldt.ca.us. The California State West Nile Virus web site, found at www.westnile.ca.gov, also contains very up-to-date information on statewide efforts at monitoring and control.
This information was provided by the County of Humboldt Department of Health and Human Services.
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