WEST NILE VIRUS INFECTED MOSQUITOS DETECTED IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

On April 19, 2016, Los Angeles County health officials announced that they have discovered mosquito’s carrying the West Nile virus in the city of Sun Valley located in the San Fernando Valley. The virus has no known cure at the moment and can be transmitted to humans and animals by a stinging bite of a mosquito that is infected.

The infected mosquitos were discovered through traps that the County had placed around the city in efforts to keep tabs on the spreading of the West Nile Virus which was first identified in East Africa decades ago. Not considered to be a real threat to humans upon its initial discovery, the virus has mutated over the years and has become a growing threat after it spread to Europe and an outbreak occurred in Romania during the 90’s.

Slowly but surely, the virus has been making its way West through mosquito’s and now it is here in Southern California. Symptoms of the virus occur between 5 and 15 days after exposure and can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and skin rashes. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death. As stated before, there is no known cure for the virus at the moment but you can take the following steps in preventing bites as summer nears.

1. Eliminate standing water in anything (buckets, gutters, barrels, etc.) that holds water for more than a week
2. Maintain pools, spas, and ponds
3. Make sure all windows have screens and patio doors have screen doors (or replace old torn ones that allow  mosquito’s to sneak in)
4. When mosquitos are present and when outdoors be sure to wear insect repellent like Off or Cutter brands.

We at Best Custom Screens can help you when it comes to protecting your home.  It’s very important that we take as many steps as possible to protect ourselves and loved ones from this potential threat.  Let us be of service to you in this time of public safety. Call us today at 818-361-2300 or visit our website at www.bestcustomscreens.com to fit your windows and patio doors with new screens.

For more information on The History of Mosquito Control click here.