Menlo Park begins mosquito treatment following West Nile discovery

Pennsylvania’s Department of Health recently reported the commonwealth’s first probable West Nile virus case in a human for the year.

Officials from the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District in California announced that it will conduct a fogging operation in Menlo Park on Sunday and Monday to eradicate the presence of West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes in the area. West Nile virus can cause complications for patients with pre-existing conditions.

West Nile is usually contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Three people became ill with the infection in 2012. Residents can pick up free mosquito fish from the district at 23187 Connecticut St., Hayward.

“Finding mosquitoes with West Nile virus this time of year is not unusual”, said Patsy Kelso, state epidemiologist for infectious disease.

However, the second woman -who is in her 40s from Payette County- was hospitalized after reporting symptoms beginning in early July.

In 2014 TCPH reported it’s first human case on August 4 and would eventually report 15 more before the end of the season. Do not use DEET on infants younger than 2 months of age: get rid of standing water, and drain areas where water can pool: rain gutters, wading pools, old tires, etc.; and install or fix screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.

Symptoms include headaches, fever, nausea, fatigue along with muscle and joint aches.