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Contra Costa County has seen 11 new positive cases of West Nile virus in mosquitoes, chickens and dead birds, including one crow found in Danville, officials announced Friday.
This marks the first virus detection in Danville and fourth in the San Ramon Valley this year, after two dead crows in San Ramon and one in Alamo tested positive in June and April, respectively, according to the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District.
The other positive tests confirmed Friday included four groups of mosquitoes trapped in Discovery Bay, chickens from Oakley and Holland Tract, near Brentwood, a dead American crow in Antioch, and dead western scrub jays in Antioch, Brentwood and Concord, district officials said.
In all, the county has seen positive West Nile virus tests in 19 dead birds, seven mosquito groups and six sentinel chickens this year. The lone human case was reported last month in a central Contra Costa County man in his 60s.
Birds are the reservoir for West Nile virus, which can be transmitted to humans via mosquitoes.
The two species of mosquitoes in the county capable of transmitting the virus prefer to feed on birds, but people can become infected when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then a person, district officials said.
“Wearing mosquito repellent is essential to help reduce the risk of getting the virus through the bite of an infected mosquito,” said Deborah Bass, the district’s public affairs manager.
Most cases of the virus are mild and include symptoms such as fever, headache, tiredness, body aches and swollen lymph glands, according to district officials. Severe cases of West Nile virus can be fatal.
The most recent Contra Costa County human fatalities from the virus occurred in 2006, when two people died, officials said.
District officials preach prevention, encouraging people to wear mosquito repellents, avoid going outside in dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are often present, dump or drain standing water where mosquitoes could lay their eggs, and report dead birds and neglected swimming pools.
For more information, call the district at 771-6195 or visit its website.
