Santa Clara County Vector Control District confirmed on Aug. 9 that mosqitos in San Jose tested positive for West Nile Virus, prompting a fogging extermination this week.
“We’ve recently confirmed the first West Nile human case in the county for this year. This, along with the high levels of virus activity that we are observing, tells us that residents should continue to avoid mosquito bites and remove standing water from around the home,” said District Manager Russ Parman.
Transmitted by mosquito bites, West Nile causes mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, and, in severe cases, significant neurological damage or even death.
Since the 2003 arrival of the virus to California, 3,626 people across the State have contracted the disease – 131 of those cases were fatal.
The county hasn’t seen this much West Nile activity in six years, according to Scientific Director Noor Tietze.
“Using preventive measures such as insect repellent to avoid mosquito bites when outdoors can help decrease the risk of contracting this disease, and that’s especially important this season,” Tietze said.
