The Santa Clara County Vector Control District (SCC VCD) has confirmed that adult mosquitoes collected from an area including portions of the 94085, 94086, 95051, and a small portion of 94087 ZIP code areas of the cities of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).
Since the arrival of WNV to California in 2003, 6,582 people across the State have contracted the disease; 292 of those cases were fatal. In 2017, there were 44 human West Nile Virus related fatalities; 2015 was a record year for fatalities in the state with 53 deaths.
There are no vaccines to prevent, or medications to treat WNV. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not have symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms including headache, body aches and, in severe cases, significant neurological damage or death. Adults older than 50 years and individuals with certain chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and kidney disease are most at risk for serious complications. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. You can reduce your risk of WNV by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites.
The detection has prompted the scheduling of a truck- mounted adult mosquito control treatment in the area around the detection site, in an effort to prevent human cases of WNV. Weather permitting, the ground operations are scheduled for 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, and will conclude a few hours later.
Monday through Wednesday, June 18-20 Vector Control staff will be available to answer any questions from the public at a dedicated phone number (800-314-2427) from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Questions can also be submitted by email to vectorinfo@deh.sccgov.org
To find out more about mosquitos and the diseases they transmit, check visit:
Help be part of the solution by reporting the following hazards to vector control:
Report Dead Birds - West Nile virus has been detected in variety of bird species. Some infected birds, especially crows and jays, are known to get sick and die from the infection. Reporting and testing of dead birds is one way to check for the presence of West Nile virus in the environment. Some surveillance programs rely on citizens to report dead bird sightings to local authorities.
Report Abandoned Pools/Ponds - Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers. Check inside and outside your home. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water. Report any standing water to vector control so they can release "mosquito fish" to interrupt the mosquito lifecycle and breeding.
To read the full public health advisory see: