Vector Control expands outreach after mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus
It’s ‘National Mosquito Awareness Week’ and after mosquitos tested positive for West Nile Virus in parts of the valley this month, Coachella Valley Vector Control is expanding its outreach hoping to raise awareness to people and visitors in the affected areas.
Vector control’s public information officer Jill Oviatt is going to hotels and Homeowner Associations in Palm Desert and Indian Wells dropping off several items including mosquitos swatters, repellents, and wipes. Oviatt is also reminding those people to protect themselves from mosquitos.
It’s a message vector control spreads year round, but the organization is being even more proactive about it after several mosquitos tested positive for WNV.
“Suddenly we saw it in Indian Wells and Palm Desert which is very rare. But after doing our truck mounted operations, we’re seeing a drop in the mosquito population and no more virus activity at this time, but it could pop up here or somewhere else in the valley,” Oviatt said.
Crus Cardenas, the owner of the Village Hotel in Palm Desert thinks the proactive approach is a good idea. He says he is happy vector control is expanding their outreach to visitors too.
“It’d be nice if people ask for it or we can talk about it. Have it handy right there. They may be interested, they may not because when they travel sometimes they don’t want to know about anything, just relax, but for me, it’s a good thing, we’re all protected not just the ones who live here,” Cardenas said.
Barbara Cane, who works at the hotel across the street from the Village Hotel, has a similar reaction.
“When an infected mosquito bites a person, 8/10 will have no symptoms at all like nothing happened but you have a mosquito bite, 2/10 will get really sick with flu-like symptoms, but a fraction of those people will have to be hospitalized. and among those, there are some who will die,” Cane said.
Cane added, “I think the outreach of giving people information about West Nile Virus, cause these are things we just don’t think about on the daily.”
While mosquitos have tested positive for WNV, there have been no reports of people being infected with the virus in the Coachella Valley. For tips on staying mosquito free, click here.
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