Mosquitoes with Saint Louis Encephalitis found in Mecca

The Saint Louis Encephalitis virus was detected for the first time in the Coachella Valley this year in mosquito samples found in Mecca, where vector control officials said Friday that West Nile virus was also on the rise.

Mosquitoes testing positive for both diseases were recently found in traps throughout the Eastern Coachella Valley.

Encephalitis was found in mosquitoes in a trap near Grant Street and Avenue 71 in Mecca, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

District officials said West Nile virus was also recently discovered in a dozen traps in Mecca, Oasis and Thermal, bringing the number of positive West Nile samples to 91 this year, as opposed to 15 West Nile samples at this point last year.

Saint Louis Encephalitis, also a potentially deadly illness, was found in 92 mosquito samples last year, setting a Coachella Valley record. The recent detections led the district to commence spraying applications.

Friday in an area bordered by Lincoln Street, Avenue 62, Johnson Street and Avenue 66. Those applications will continue through Sunday, after which another three days of applications will get underway in the area south of Mecca and north of the Salton Sea.

The District will also begin aerial spraying in Palm Springs targeting the Aedes aegypti mosquito which can carry deadly diseases such as Zika virus and Yellow Fever.

The spraying will be from 5 to 7 in the morning. The area to be sprayed can be seen in the map below.

Joe Galli can be found on Facebook and on Twitter @JoeGalliNews