West Nile strikes 10 more statewide

The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Aug 24 2007 4:37 PM

Last Updated: Friday, Aug 24 2007 4:36 PM

West Nile virus has struck 10 new people in California since Tuesday, but no new cases were reported in Kern County during the same three-day period.

Nevertheless, Kern still ended up with 14 new cases over the past week, more than the total number of cases in any other county, public health officials reported.

In California as of Friday, 147 people had been sickened by the mosquito-borne illness, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Between Tuesday and Friday, the number of people who have contracted the virus in Kern County remained flat at 78. Nevertheless, that’s more cases by far than any other county, and more than half the statewide total.

The counties with the next highest number of cases are Stanislaus with 10 and Fresno with nine.

Eight deaths related to the virus have been reported in California this year, three in Kern County.

At first glance, three days with no new cases in Kern County may seem encouraging.

But more time is needed before the outcome of the recent aerial sprayings in metropolitan Bakersfield will be known, said Dr. Boyce Dulan, director of disease control for the Kern County Department of Health.

“We’ll get a better look I think come the first of next week,” he said Friday.

To avoid getting West Nile, local and state agencies urge residents to:

• Eliminate all sources of stagnant or standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

• Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

• Wear long sleeves and long pants while outdoors whenever possible.

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions.

• Make sure the doors and windows in your home have tight-fitting screens with no holes or tears.

• Contact your mosquito abatement district if there is a significant mosquito problem where you live or work, for a supply of mosquito fish to control larvae in troughs and ponds or to report an abandoned, stagnant swimming pool. Call the Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District at 589-2744, Westside Mosquito Abatement District at 763-3510, Delano Mosquito Abatement District at 725-3114 or South Fork Mosquito Abatement District at 760-376-4268.

• Call the state’s toll-free hot line at 877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473) upon finding a dead bird or squirrel.

• Consult veterinarians to properly vaccinate horses.

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