Agricultural Research Service
The number of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus in Orange County has more than doubled over the past week.
Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s most recent data shows there have been 113 positive samples collected in cities throughout the county.
For the first time this year, samples tested positive in Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, Los Alamitos and San Clemente.
On Wednesday, the Orange County Health Care Agency reported the area’s first human case of West Nile virus this year. An Anaheim woman in her 60s has been hospitalized since July in serious condition.
The OCMVCD has tested 2,626 samples. By this time last year, the agency had tested 2,332 samples and 65 were positive.
Mosquitoes typically become carriers of the virus after feeding on an infected bird and can then spread the potentially lethal strain to animals and humans.
Following is a list of cities and the number of dead birds infected with WNV found in each:
— Orange, four;
— Huntington Beach, three;
— Irvine, three;
— Anaheim, two;
— Laguna Ranch, two;
— Laguna Woods, two; and
— one apiece in Coto De Caza, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Mission Viejo and Yorba Linda.
Because of the warm weather and above-average mosquito populations and positive West Nile virus samples, the risk of getting the virus is elevated, officials said.
To reduce exposure to West Nile virus, residents are urged to:
— limit outdoor activity at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are generally on the move;
— wear pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors;
— use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or products containing IR3535;
— ensure door and window screens are in good condition and fitted properly to keep bugs out; and
— get rid of standing water — aside from pools properly treated with chemicals — to reduce areas in which mosquitoes may breed, including flower pots and pet bowls.
Information on mosquito control is available on the Orange County Vector Control District’s website at www.ocvcd.org.