LAKE COUNTY — Three dead birds and one mosquito sample collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile virus this week, but no human cases were reported to date, county officials announced Friday.
The three dead birds were American crows found in Lower Lake, Clearlake Oaks and Lucerne. The positive mosquito sample was collected south of Kelseyville near Highway 175.
This year, 13 mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus and five virus-positive dead birds were detected in Lake County. No other West Nile virus activity was reported in the county this year.
West Nile virus season can last well beyond Labor Day.
Officials encourage residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites by avoiding the outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, wearing long sleeves and using an insect repellant containing an Environmental Protection Agency-registered active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR353.
People should dump out buckets, wading pools and other sources of standing water where mosquitoes could congregate in their yards.
The Lake County Vector Control District provides free mosquito-eating fish to county residents for use in animal water troughs, ornamental ponds and out-of-service (“green”) swimming pools.
Residents are encouraged to call the district at 263-4770 for mosquito problems, to get mosquito fish or to report neglected pools and other mosquito sources. To fill out a service request, visit www.lcvcd.org.
For more information about West Nile virus, visit www.westnile.ca.gov.
