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Hello, Navajo and College Area!
Maybe it is because I was a journalist during the COVID-19 pandemic, or it’s the many county press releases about random diseases getting detected in San Diego County that I have seen and reported on over the years. Or, quite possibly, it’s a more selfish reason that when I read that a rare disease has been detected, it just seems to fly right over my head.
Last Friday, the news that West Nile virus was found in San Carlos hit a bit too close to home — 2.4 miles too close to be precise.
With a deadly-sounding virus now at my front doorstep, I decided to take action and learn more about West Nile virus and whether or not I needed to put myself and my family inside of a bubble once and for all.
My first step, get in touch with the county of San Diego to learn exactly where the virus-carrying mosquitoes were found in San Carlos.
The fine people at the county responded quickly. The mosquito was found near the San Carlos Rec Center along Lake Badin Avenue.
Some good news, according to a county spokesperson: “The West Nile virus was detected in a very small batch of six mosquitoes in a county surveillance trap near the rec center. Our team checked the surrounding area traps and found a low volume of mosquitoes, all of which tested negative for West Nile virus. They also installed more traps to aid ongoing surveillance. We will continue to closely monitor the area and the rest of the county per our procedures.”
Crisis averted. However, there was still some important work to do, such as learning exactly what the West Nile virus is and how dangerous it is.
It turns out, West Nile virus is fairly common. In the vast majority of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people don’t even know they have it. In a small percentage of cases, however, symptoms can range from a mild rash and stomach bug to long-term fatigue and, in rare cases, can require hospitalization and even lead to death.
While the news and the commonality of West Nile virus did ease my nerves slightly, my research did find something else that was troubling. Last year, the county detected more mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus (182 cases) than it had in the past 22 years, and nearly double the previous record in 2016 when 99 mosquito batches tested positive for the virus.
So, what can you do to try to fend off the virus? The county recommends wearing mosquito repellent, dumping out any standing water in your yard and reporting any green pools in your neighborhood. According to the county website, you can even request an “educational inspection for your home.”
Dorian Hargrove
Mission Times newsletter host
Navajo, College Area story spotlight
Mosquitoes in San Carlos test positive for West Nile virus
By City News Service
Mosquito season typically starts in April, but the county reminded everyone on Thursday to follow three steps: Prevent, Protect and Report.
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