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Santa Clara County officials plan to spray insecticides in parts of San Jose and unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County next week after finding mosquitoes that tested positive for the West Nile virus in the area.
Those living in the 95127 and 95140 zip code area east of Alum Rock, centered around Calco Creek Drive, may see trucks driving around the area around 10pm that night, spraying insecticide to reduce adult mosquito populations, weather permitting. Spraying will last two to four hours.
This is the first West Nile Virus treatment conducted in the county this year. This type of treatment has been conducted periodically since 2003 to reduce the population of mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus.
According to the county, adult mosquitoes are the primary vectors of vector-borne viruses that cause disease in humans, and treatments to control adult mosquitoes are intended to reduce the mosquito population in the area and reduce the risk of West Nile virus infection to humans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and a rash, although most infected people may not show any symptoms.
Some people can develop symptoms of a serious illness that affects the central nervous system, including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). Older people, people with pre-existing medical conditions, and people who have had organ transplants are at higher risk for serious illness if they become infected, the CDC says.
Santa Clara County officials said the number of West Nile virus cases increases during the summer and early fall due to warmer weather that favors mosquito breeding. The county is also tracking the presence of diseases that are spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, including West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis and western equine encephalitis.
Residents who live in zip codes where the county plans to spray were notified by mail, AlertsSCC, email and Nextdoor.
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