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.
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.
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.
About 25 bird carcasses infected with the West Nile virus have been found in or near Arcadia. Dead crows found along the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo rivers could indicate a major outbreak is on the way.
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).
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.
A chart shows school enrollment numbers from 1998 to 2004. More than 40 percent of the public school districts in California are experiencing declining enrollment. Experts say it is due to a decline in the birth rate and families' migration patterns.
81 percent of area schools met their growth targets on the California state Academic Performance Index (API). However, 35 percent of West San Gabriel Valley schools failed to meet the federal accountability targets determined by Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. See chart on page A6 for Arcadia Unified School District progress.
A report on fiscal year spending at area school districts shows South Pasadena Unified and La Canada Unified spend the smallest proportion of their general fund budgets on central administrative costs. Arcadia Unified and Temple City Unified spend the largest percentage of their budgets on teacher salaries.
Pasadena councilman and treasurer for the Council of Governments said the agency will run out of money before the end of the fiscal year. The Council of Governments was an agency founded to foster cooperation among cities in the region.
The body and car of Arcadia resident Pei-hua Tsai were recovered after his car plunged into the San Gabriel Reservoir last Saturday, March 12, 2005. He was 24 years old. A photo shows the wreckage and divers.