Image by IK's World Trip via Flickr(Note: I have been covering this situation from the very beginning for the Los Cerritos Community News. Pay attention, media. This is getting beyond "serious.")
By Randy Economy
Los Angeles, CA— Norwalk and Cerritos continue to be "ground zero" for this years case load of West Nile virus activity for Los Angeles County.
The number of dead birds with the deadly virus in both neighboring areas are now the highest in LA County and now officials are taking to the streets to inform residents about the outbreak. (See chart below, and this data was from ONE WEEK AGO).
In response to this serious public health threat, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District is planning what they call "an aggressive public outreach and mosquito control campaign to raise awareness and safeguard residents against mosquito bites and virus transmission."
"After careful analysis of mosquito infection rates throughout the District, GLACVCD is focusing
Image via Wikipediaoutreach and control efforts on “hot spots” in the communities of Norwalk, Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Whittier this week," according to a statement released on Thursday by officials at Vector Control. A comprehensive door-to-door campaign will take place on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, staff members will target portions of the communities of Norwalk, Studio City and Whittier. On Saturday, they will reach out to the remaining target areas in Whittier and neighborhoods in Sherman Oaks. Staff members will be notifying residents of the West Nile virus activity in their area, providing them with instructive brochures, and offering to conduct yard inspections for mosquito breeding sources. Bilingual Spanish/English door hangers will be left on homes where in-person contact cannot be made. While community education and outreach is being escalated in areas of heightened activity, operational staff continue to deploy available resources and strategies to target mosquito populations belowground, in the underground storm drains, and above ground across the District’s diverse urban landscape.“Our Vector Control Specialists work diligently year-round in all of our communities throughout Greater
Los Angeles County to control mosquito populations,” says Director of Community Affairs Truc Dever.
“However, unknown backyard breeding sources are a major problem for us, so we must partner with
the community to help us identify and eliminate standing water. Our goal with this campaign is to give
residents the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves from this potentially debilitating
disease while providing immediate service to residents through property inspections and source
reduction.
The District hopes that this important campaign will not only alert residents to this year’s particularly
ominous West Nile virus threat, but will also incite a call-to-arms for people to apply insect repellent and
eliminate mosquito breeding sources around their homes
GLACVCD WNV Activity LOS ANGELES COUNTY
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