The weather is cooling down, but Studio City is still considered a hot zone for the West Nile Virus because traps still show positive tests for the potentially-deadly illness, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.
Studio City has been the in the San Fernando Valley, but Chatsworth, Encino, Burbank and Van Nuys are also getting consistently higher readings every month. The 13 dead birds were mostly found in the San Fernando Valley this past week.
No dead birds were found in Studio City over the past week, but two were found in Chatsworth and two in Van Nuys, one each was found in Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, North Hills, West Hills and Woodland Hills.
Also, for the first time this year, one dead bird was located in the Hollywood Hills area in 90068.
The Studio City tally this year so far is six dead birds, and 12 mosquito samples found in the 91604 area, and one mosquito sample in the hills above Studio City in the 90068 area.
Usually with the weather cooling down, the mosquito breeding tends to also decrease, but Crystal Brown from the Vector Control District.
Six sentinel chickens were found with virus this week, one in nearby Griffith Park (90027), two in El Dorado Park and three in the Sepulveda Basin at ZIP code 91436.
City or Community
Zip Code(s)
Number of WNV+ mosquito samples collected
Burbank
91505
2
Cerritos
90703
1
Chatsworth
91311
1
Diamond Bar
91765
2
Encino
91436
2
Gardena
90247
1
Granada Hills
91344
1
Newhall
91321
1
Northridge
91326
1
Panorama City
91402
1
Pico Rivera
90660
3
Rowland Heights
91748
1
San Marino
91108
1
Studio City
91604
2
Winnetka
91306
2
Woodland Hills
91367
2
Most of the positive results in Los Angeles County come from the San Fernando Valley area, but also Pico Rivera, Winnetka and Cerritos have persistent positive results, too.
This brings the District's total to 130 positive dead birds, 342 positive mosquito samples, and 19 sentinel chickens showing antibodies so far this year. Statewide, there have been 398 positive dead birds, 1,479 positive mosquito samples, and 135 sentinel chickens showing antibodies in 2011.
The incidents of West Nile virus is reaching potential epidemic concerns as far as tests in the area, and two people this season were diagnosed with the virus, which causes flu-like symptoms, chills and sometimes death. The California Department of Public Health discovered 10 human cases in Los Angeles County over the whole year."This is a situation that is not going to go away, we have to be careful of this situation on an ongoing capacity," Brown said. "West Nile virus is here to stay."
The green boxes in trees around the area should not be tampered with or touched, even if it is on your private property.
Protect yourself and your family from West Nile virus by following the 3 D's of West Nile virus prevention:
1. Dump/Drain
Eliminate standing water on your property because that's where mosquitoes breed.
2. Dusk/Dawn
Avoid outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active.
3. DefendDusk/Dawn
Wear insect repellent containing EPA-registered ingredients such as DEET, IR3535, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus and long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors. Use properly-fitted screens free from tears on windows and doors around your home to keep mosquitoes out.
If there are puddles or pools with mosquitoes breeding in them, or if you see a dead bird, contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at www.glacvcd.org or call (562) 944-9656
Also, for more information:
