CONCORD, CALIFORNIA – – The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District is reporting five dead birds, a group of mosquitoes, and a chicken that have tested positive for West Nile virus. In addition, the District received notice from public health officials that two people, one from East county and one from Central county also tested positive for the virus.
For a list of all 2017 West Nile virus activity and locations, visit the District’s website.
The mosquitoes were collected from an area near Knightsen and the chicken from Martinez. The dead birds were collected from Pleasant Hill, Martinez, and Walnut Creek.
“The West Nile virus season isn’t over yet,” said the District’s Scientific Programs Manager Steve Schutz, Ph.D. “People need to take precautions against mosquito bites. Please take our guidelines seriously.”
District personnel are conducting extra surveillance and mosquito control in the areas where virus activity was found.
Residents can reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:
- Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes can’t begin their lives without water.
- Defend yourself – use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
- Maintain neglected swimming pools. Just one can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
Report dead birds to the state hotline: by visiting the California Department of Public Health’s website. All reports are crucial.
Since 2005, 58 people in Contra Costa County have been diagnosed with West Nile virus. In 2006, two people died from the disease. For a current list of West Nile virus activity this year, visit this page on the District’s website. For human case information, please contact Contra Costa Health Services at 888-959-9911.
Mosquito Samples: 7
| n | Date Reported | City | Cross Streets | Species |
| 1 | 7/26/17 | DIscovery Bay | Point of TImber Rd. x Poe Dr. | Culex pipiens |
| 2 | 8/2/17 | Byron | Byron Hwy x Rankin Rd. | Culex tarsalis |
| 3 | 8/16/17 | Antioch | E. 18th St. x Hillcrest Ave. | Culex tarsalis |
| 4 | 8/21/17 | Discovery Bay | Cherry Hills Dr. x Hwy 4 | Culex pipiens |
| 5 | 8/23/17 | Brentwood | Continente Ave x Date Nut St. | Culex pipiens |
| 6 | 9/11/17 | Oakley | Oakley Rd. x Main St. | Culex tarsalis |
| 7 | 9/27/17 | Knightsen | Holland Tract Rd. x Tranquility Bay Rd. | Culex tarsalis |
Dead Birds: 16
| n | Date Reported | City | Cross Streets | Species |
| 1 | 7/26/2017 | Walnut Creek | Ygnacio Valley Rd. x Wiget Ln. | American Crow |
| 2 | 7/26/2017 | Walnut Creek | Ygnacio Valley Rd. x Wiget Ln. | American Crow |
| 3 | 8/1/2017 | Walnut Creek | Ygnacio Valley Rd. x Wiget Ln. | American Crow |
| 4 | 8/3/2017 | Danville | Brookside Dr. x Greenbrook Dr. | American Crow |
| 5 | 8/8/2017 | Discovery Bay | Highway 4 x Discovery Bay Blvd. | Western Scrub Jay |
| 6 | 8/24/2017 | Danville | Camino Tassajara x Fairwood Ct. | Western Scrub Jay |
| 7 | 9/7/2017 | San Ramon | Davona Dr. x Calais Drive | American Crow |
| 8 | 9/8/2017 | Brentwood | Byron Hwy. x Delta Rd. | American Crow |
| 9 | 9/10/2017 | Antioch | Hillcrest Ave. x Via Dora Dr. | American Crow |
| 10 | 9/12/2017 | Pleasant Hill | Gregory Ln. x Contra Costa Blvd. | American Crow |
| 11 | 9/18/2017 | Alamo | Golden Meadow Ln. x Red Wing Dr. | Western Scrub Jay |
| 12 | 9/21/2017 | Walnut Creek | Arbolado Dr. x Doncaster Dr. | American Crow |
| 13 | 9/24/2017 | Walnut Creek | Norris Rd. x San Miguel Dr. | American Crow |
| 14 | 9/27/2017 | Pleasant hill | Viking Dr. x Norse Dr. | American Crow |
| 15 | 9/27/2017 | Martinez | Lester Rd. x Milden Rd. | Western Scrub Jay |
| 16 | 9/27/2017 | Walnut Creek | N. California Blvd. x Pringle Ave. | Western Scrub Jay |
Sentinel Chicken Flocks: 2
Note: Chickens do not die from West Nile virus. They develop antibodies to the virus which is detected in their blood.
| #/10 | Date Bleed | Area |
| 4/10 | 8/7/17 | Knightsen |
| 1/10 | 9/18/17 | Martinez |
Horses: 1
| n | Date Reported | City | Dead/Euthanized |
| 1 | 8/11/2017 | Brentwood | No |
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District, an independent special district and public health agency, is located at 155 Mason Circle in Concord. Call the District to report mosquito problems at (925) 771-6195 or visit the office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to get FREE mosquitofish for ornamental ponds, horse troughs or neglected swimming pools.
