New West Nile Case Heightens Concerns
West Nile Virus is still alive in the Coachella Valley even though fall and cooler weather are here.
A new human case in La Quinta has the valley's vector control fighting for your safety.
The Center for Disease Control says it's a record year nationally for West Nile.
This is the highest number of virus cases reported since 2003.
Last week a person contracted West Nile in Palm Desert, now this week in La Quinta.
Vector control is fighting back against mosquitoes in La Quinta after another peson contracted West Nile Virus.
"It's been pretty scary, we've had a couple of nights out where we were with some friends and I was getting bit, and the only thing I could think of the entire time was you know contracting West Nile Virus," said Indio resident, Cynthia Light.
But Cynthia is more concerned for her daughter, Autumn.
Vector control is still setting traps every week valleywide.
And now spraying a mile radius in La Quinta using hand held foggers in drain systems and other breeding grounds.
"Been extremely, extremely bad with West Nile all over the country and also here, we've had over a hundred positive mosquito samples, five human cases confirmed here in the valley, luckily no deaths," said lead supervisor Matthew Smith with Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.
But nationwide over 5,000 people diagnosed with West Nile, 228 people died.
Texas was the hardest hit state with 76 deaths.
California was the next with 16 deaths.
Usually mosquito season would be ending, but we have a unique stiuation here in the desert.
"It is a desert, but as you see behind me, there's a lot of water input to a lot of these sources because of all the irrigation, but the fact that it's so warm makes it such a hospitable climate for people to come here, it also tends to give us an abnormal breeding season for mosquitoes that runs pretty much year round," said Smith.
La Quinta resident Eddie Coy says he's careful where he takes his son, Ayden.
"More concerned about him, but it's one of those things you don't think about to be honest with you, so its so minor, but big at the same time."
Vector control reminds people to wear insect repellant and long sleeves, take care of standing water, and call them if you have a mosquito problem.
Those numbers: Toll-Free: (888) 343-9399
District Office: (760) 342-8287





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