Last month, officials from the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District announced that mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus (WNV) have appeared in the San Gabriel Valley, warning residents to take precautions to avoid bites.
Virus-carrying mosquito samples, the first WNV positive mosquitoes collected in the SGV this year, were found in traps in West Covina and at Cal Poly Pomona. The disease had previously been detected in birds in Altadena and Monrovia.
"With the current heat wave in full swing, we anticipate more WNV activity in the district and caution all residents to be vigilant as this will be a very busy season," SGV Mosquito and Vector Control District Scientific Programs Manager Dr. Wakoli Wekesa said in a press release.
To prevent mosquito bites and avoid the risk of WNV, locals should wear repellent, long sleeve shirts and long pants when outdoors between dusk and dawn, as well as ensure that windows are secured at night to keep mosquitoes out of their home. In addition, residents should remove standing water from their property to prevent mosquito reproduction.
In addition, the agency encourages residents to report increased mosquito activity, sources of standing water and green pools by calling 626.814.9466 or online at www.SGVmosquito.org. Locals should also report dead birds to the WNV hotline at 877.WNV.BIRD.