A mosquito sample in Palm Springs tested positive for West Nile virus, the first reported positive sample in the city, and mosquito control treatments for portions of Coachella Valley began Friday.
The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District collected the sample near the intersection of South Camino Real and East La Verne Way and is the 11th positive mosquito sample of West Nile virus in the Coachella Valley.
Last year, 203 samples throughout the valley tested positive for West Nile virus with no detections of St. Louis encephalitis virus, while 103 samples tested positive for mosquito-borne viruses this year, which includes 95 positive tests for St. Louis encephalitis virus.
West Nile virus spreads when a female mosquito bites an infected bird and becomes a carrier, which can be transferred to humans. Most people who contract the virus do not develop symptoms, but in some cases symptoms may develop such as fever, headaches and body aches. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
“We recommend that everyone walk around their property weekly and dump any containers holding water. Buckets and flowerpot saucers are some of the most common mosquito breeding sources,” Gregorio Alvarado, operations manager for the district, said in a statement.
In addition, vector district officials recommend people use EPA-registered insect repellents that contain at least 30% DEET picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Essential oils and citronella candles are not recommended, officials said.
“No human cases of mosquito-borne illness has been reported in the Coachella Valley so far this year,” officials said.
To prevent further spread of mosquito-borne viruses, the district will perform control treatments using aerial and truck-mounted applications.
In Coachella, a truck-mounted control spraying took place from 12 a.m. through 5 a.m. Friday in a section of the city.
The application method combined high volumes of air and low volumes of liquid larvicide mixed with water for an efficient treatment.
During the spraying, the district used VectoBac WDG, an organic product, that poses no risk to people, pets or wildlife, including other insects and honeybees.
In Palm Springs, aerial and truck-mounted applications will be held from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. for a week beginning Monday. The district will use OMRI, an organic product that is not believed to harm people, pets, wildlife other insects or honeybees.
The agency said all products are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for public health protection and applied by trained, certified technicians.
A map of the spraying operation can be seen at www.cvmosquito.org/mosquito-control-treatments-e755425.
More information can be found at www.cvmosquito.org.