Santa Clara County officials confirmed Tuesday morning that West Nile virus (WNV) was found in adult mosquitoes collected from an area that includes part of Gilroy.
A truck-mounted adult mosquito control treatment has been scheduled in the area of Gilroy, ZIP code 95020, around Kern and Saint Clar avenues to prevent human cases of the virus. Ground operations are scheduled to begin around 10 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, set to finish a few hours later.
Door hangers alerting residents to the scheduled mosquito treatment will be placed in neighborhoods on Tuesday. Notice is also being sent directly to the public in the treatment ZIP codes through AlertSCC, and to those who subscribe to the online platform, Nextdoor.
General notice also is being provided on various social media platforms with the @SCCVCD account, The County of Santa Clara Vector Control District.
According to officials, there is no need for residents to relocate during that time. To minimize exposure, people should close windows and remain inside during the scheduled time period. The treatments are approved by the Federal and State Environmental Protection Agencies and are widely used by Vector Control agencies throughout California.
West Nile virus first showed up in California in 2003. Since then, 7,360 people across the state have contracted the disease; 339 of those cases were fatal. While the infection does not cause symptoms in most people, for some individuals it can cause fever, headache, body aches and, in severe cases, significant neurological damage or death.
Residents are advised to dump any standing or still water on their property, to wear long sleeves and insect repellant, and to avoid outside activities during dusk or dawn.
Vector Control staff will be available to answer any questions from the public, Monday through Friday, at the dedicated phone number (408) 282-3114, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Questions can also be submitted by email to vectorinfo@cep.sccgov.org.
Related
