West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that first entered the U.S. in 1999, specifically in New York. Since then it has traveled westward till it has now touched most of the states. In 2008 there were 15 deaths in California as a result of this illness. In May 2009 a dead bird found in Tracy tested positive for the virus, the first reported find of the season. See CDC Maps and Data.

In 2007 San Joaquin County had a fatal case of West Nile Virus. In San Joaquin County large-scale spraying of pyrethroid and piperonyl butoxide-based insecticides was completed by August 7. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the hardest hit counties of Kern, Colusa and San Joaquin. Kern County has reported 38 cases tied to the virus, including two of the five deaths." (Sacramento Bee, August 8, 2007). USGS data show number of reported cases in San Joaquin County to date.

The San Joaquin County West Nile Task Force has provided the Library with Fight the Bite brochures in Spanish and English.

Magazine articles on this topic may be found in the Library or via EBSCO Host. These range from the highly technical to those giving tips on 'avoiding the bite.'

You can keep yourself safe following the prescribed method of avoiding mosquito bites. You can also contribute by reducing the number of places where mosquitos can lay eggs. Empty water from buckets, watering cans, tires, flower pots, clogged ran gutters, birdbaths and toys. Anywhere there is standing water, an opportunity exists for mosquito eggs to hatch and larva to grow. It only takes 7 days from egg to adult.

If eliminating standing water is unpractical, mosquito-eating fish can be placed in the water. Gambusia (closely related to guppies) are one type of mosquito-eating fish. Dragonfly nymphs and diving beetlesfish also eat mosquitoes. All of these natural predators eat mosquitoes in their larval state.

Report dead birds to State health officials: 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473 TOLL FREE).

Information on massive abatement efforts in San Joaquin County, such as spraying, can be found at www.sjgov.org/oes.

More suggestions and safety precautions are found on the websites linked from this page.

Another mapping website for West Nile Virus and other diseases is HealthMap.