TEHAMA COUNTY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR

CONTROL DISTRICT

PO BOX 1005

RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA 96080

(530) 527-1676 tcmvcd1676@gmail.com

WNV is transmitted to humans and animals through a mosquito bite.  Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.  With WNV arriving in Tehama County the best way to avoid the disease is to reduce exposure to mosquitoes and eliminate their breeding grounds.  Tehama County Mosquito and Vector Control District (TCMVCD) Manager D. Andrew Cox recommends that County citizens help reduce their risk of mosquito-borne diseases by taking these precautions:

• Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding as the recent rains have filled any buckets, barrels or any container that can hold water

• Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and the first two hours after sunset.

• When outdoors, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.

• Apply insect repellant containing DEET according to label instructions.

• Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.  Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.

• Contact Tehama County Mosquito and Vector Control District at 527-1676 if there is a significant mosquito problem where you live or work. 

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Most individuals who are infected with WNV do not experience any illness.  Only 20% of infections have mild symptoms, such as fever, rash, headache and body aches.  Less than one percent of WNV infections can prove severe.  Death from WNV is uncommon, although seniors and individuals with impaired immune systems have a greater chance of dying from WNV infection.  The public is advised to see their medical provider if they develop symptoms that could be from WNV.

Human-to-human transmission of WNV is limited to unusual situations such as blood transfusions and organ transplantation. Blood Banks have developed extensive screening tests of specimens for evidence of WNV.  WNV is not directly transmitted from birds to humans, although the public is advised to not handle dead or dying birds.

Tehama County Mosquito and Vector Control District has previously adopted a mosquito-borne arboviral response plan and will put it into action.  TCMVCD uses a comprehensive surveillance and integrated pest management to monitor and control nuisance and disease mosquitoes throughout the District.  District personnel will increase surveillance to better quantify areas of potential disease carrying mosquitoes.  Adulticiding within the District, to help reduce the threat of WNV, has been ongoing since April in areas where known populations of these potential disease carrying mosquitoes are known.  Wide spread adulticiding will increase to all areas of the District as the mosquito season continues and WNV expands.

Since horses are susceptible to WNV (with a 20 to 30 % mortality rate) and a vaccine is available for horses, horse owners are advised to contact their veterinarians about timely vaccinations.

Tehama County citizens can help the District’s monitoring effort for WNV by reporting any crows, ravens, magpies, jays, sparrows, finches and raptors that may have been dead for less than 24 hours to a special statewide toll-free hotline: 877-WNV-BIRD.  The bird should show no signs of decomposition or maggot infestation

For more information about WNV in California or to report dead birds online, visit CDHS' Web site at http://www.westnile.ca.gov/.              

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