West Nile Virus: infected mosquitoes, birds found in San Gabriel Valley. A recent sample of mosquitoes collected in Arcadia have been confirmed to be infected with West Nile Virus, prompting officials to emphasize prevention. There is no vaccine and no treatment.
A dead bird in Arcadia and two dead birds in Temple City were found to be infected by West Nile virus. The virus can be spread to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
A dead crow infected with West Nile Virus was found in Arcadia on September 3, and is the first confirmed finding of the virus in Los Angeles County this year. Exposure to West Nile Virus is spread to humans from the vite of an infected mosquito. Biting a bird that carries the virus infects a mosquito. The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is encouraging the public to take precautions to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.
A rash of dead crows proves the presence of West Nile virus in the San Gabriel Valley. Arcadia and West Covina are the cities with the most documented cases.
Officials estimate the infection rate of West Nile Virus is higher than what is currently known since health officials stopped testing dead birds where the virus is confirmed to be present. Arcadia and West Covina had high rates of infection among San Gabriel Valley communities.
Sales of mosquito repellant have increased in the San Gabriel Valley due to threat of West Nile Virus. The California Department of Health Services recommends applying insect repellant with Diethyl-m-toluamine (DEET).
San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District wants to control the West-Nile virus epidemic by sending Pasadena police helicopters over Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Covina, Monrovia and West Covina. They identified 94 green pools and stagnant bodies of water yesterday. Owners will be ordered to clean them up or face a $1000 fine. Dirty swimming pools are the most significant source of mosquito breeding.
West Nile Virus has been discovered in two samples of mosquitoes collected at Kahler Russell Park in Covina and at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia.
In an effort to combat the spread of West Nile virus, technicians sprayed the 127-acre Arboretum with a pesticide called Scourge that kills adult mosquitos.
View east shows two balloons aloft over Arcadia and San Gabriel Valley. It is possible that first river up from bottom of photo is Rio Hondo Wash. Some of trees along Santa Anita appear to be in extreme lower right of photo. Tree-lined street showing in extreme lower left of photo is Duarte Road. Second river coming into photo about five inches up from bottom of photo would be San Gabriel River.
View west, probably from a point about 1/4 mile west of Rosemead, on what is presently Huntington Drive. Street is dirt. There are railroad tracks along the right belonging to San Gabriel Railroad. There is a row of white power poles along side of tracks.
Tony Walker, new director of the West San Gabriel Valley Juvenile Diversion Project, is optimistic about the organization's work with juveniles. The program, whose service area includes Arcadia, deals with young, first-time offenders whose problems are still minor.