How mosquitoes are controlled in the Coachella Valley after West Nile Virus is detected in Riverside County

Riverside County reported its first human case of West Nile virus of the year last week. The case is in western Riverside County; there are no reports in the Coachella Valley yet, according to the county.

This comes after the Coachella Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District detected the virus in mosquitoes in Indian Wells for the first time this year in late July. In a press release, the agency says the sample comes from an area near Fred Waring Drive and Eldorado Drive.

This is the 182nd sample to test positive for the virus in the Coachella Valley.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, headaches, and body aches. Some individuals could be hospitalized, and in rare cases, the virus can be deadly.

The Vector Control District employs a wide variety of strategies to control mosquito populations. They monitor sites across the Coachella Valley, which they test weekly for active mosquito breeding.

Miguel Vargas, a vector control technician, says the key is to "eliminate the mosquito larva, before they fly off as adults."

Vargas sampled a site in Indian Wells this afternoon. He took three samples of standing water using a tool resembling a long spoon and inspected each sample visually for any sign of mosquitoes. Had there been any mosquito larvae or egg racks, which can contain 150 to 300 eggs, a larvicide would be used to eliminate the mosquitoes — but there were no mosquitoes to be seen.

Roberto Gaona, the Public Information Manager for the Coachella Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, explains, "it's much easier to control larger amounts in the water because once they're flying around, it's a lot harder to find those individual mosquitoes."

In areas like Coachella and Indio, which are hotspots for mosquito breeding, the district also sprays chemicals every weekend during peak mosquito season, which is from July to September.

Gaona says the spray is safe for humans and pets, but if people feel unsafe, they should stay inside their homes while the treatment is sprayed.

Although there are no reports of the West Nile virus in the Coachella Valley, Gaona says people should still be proactive.

"The majority of people will not have severe symptoms when it comes to like West Nile virus, only about 1% of people will have severe symptoms that could potentially lead to death," Gaona says. "The majority are asymptomatic, but it doesn't mean that we cannot be proactive by protecting ourselves and our loved ones, by using insect repellent and dumping and draining around our homes."

The Vector Control District lists ways you can help prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the valley on its website.