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What’s Buzzin’ This Summer? 

Summer is here, bringing with it not only lots of sunshine, but unfortunately mosquitoes and West Nile virus (WNV) too! With the rise of West Nile virus activity across the state of California, protecting yourself and your loved ones is more important than ever. Let’s take a moment to learn more about this mosquito-borne disease and how you can protect yourself and others. 

 WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are WNV carriers (vectors) that become infected when they feed on infected birds. These mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they take a blood meal. 

The image displays birds, a mosquito, people on a bench, and a horse, seemingly illustrating disease vectors and potential hosts or carriers.

Most people that are infected with WNV won't show any symptoms, but for some, it can cause serious illness. Symptoms range from a mild headache and fever to severe neurological issues, and in rare cases, WNV can cause serious illness and death.  

The good news is that there are several ways to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes and the dangers they pose: 

  • Use Mosquito Repellent: Apply an EPA-registered mosquito repellent on exposed skin containing one of these active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. 
  • Wear Protective Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. 
  • Eliminate Standing Water: Mosquitoes reproduce in standing water, so empty containers such as flowerpots, bird baths, and ponds to reduce mosquito breeding sites. 
  • Install Screens: Keep doors and windows screened to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. 
  • Report Dead Birds: Many types of birds carry WNV and can die from infection. This makes them good indicators of where WNV is active. If you find a dead bird, please report it to the Dead Bird Hotline at 1-877-968-2473 or file a report online at www.westnile.ca.gov 

  

As of July 29, 2024, there has been no WNV activity detected in Marin or Sonoma counties. However, some counties in California are seeing an uptick in WNV activity. As of the latest update, 156 dead birds, 2 humans, and 583 mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus in the state.