California drought responsible for spreading of West Nile virus

Results are still pending on the other two zones, which include the Johnstown, Milliken and Gilcrest areas and the Firestone, Frederick and Fort Lupton, according to a Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment news release Monday.

The number of counties in the state that have had positive mosquito samples. More than 800 Californians suffered West Nile virus.

Lancaster had 69 trapped mosquitoes test positive past year for the virus and 45 test positive in 2013.

Single mosquitoes have also tested positive for West Nile in the city of Columbus and in Franklin, Licking and Richland counties.

Hampering mosquito breeding through prevention is one of the best ways to help minimize the potential of virus infection, according to Pest Management Team member Ronald Purvis.

Most of the mosquitoes now flying around are floodwater mosquitoes, Balis says, because they breed in larger, wetter overflow areas associated with the lake and wetlands. Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are not among the 22 states with reports of the virus. However, the virus has been detected in birds in 31 California counties as the season begins for West Nile.

Maurice said West Nile is an endemic and it’s is not restricted to one area.

However, he agreed that hot weather increases the spread of diseases transmitted by insects – and that global warming trends make the situation worse. Health officials recommend wearing socks, shoes, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers when spending time outdoors.

“While rainfall has been lower, it may mean that people are watering their lawns and using more domestic water to water their lawns – and there’s a lot of runoff”. “The catch basins can provide mosquitoes with water that they didn’t have before”.

Jaramillo hoped that her experience with the virus would encourage people to use DEET bug spray and cover their skin when going outside.