New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: West Nile Virus

The Orange County Vector Control District’s response about spraying in Santa Ana

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Please don't spray me

The Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) has created a formal response to the hundreds if not thousands of emails and calls they have received from Santa Ana residents concerned about chemicals being sprayed in their neighborhoods. The full response is below. It is pretty clear that they still want to spray in Santa Ana.

The OCVCD is still harping on the fact that Santa Ana is leading the County in West Nile Virus infections even though there has been only one death in our city due to this disease. Santa Ana residents have come down with 26 cases of the West Nile Virus – out of some 350,000 residents. For comparison’s sake 12 residents of Anaheim have come down with the West Nile Virus. Click here to see the latest updates on Orange County West Nile Virus cases.

Consider that the Orange County Health Care Agency reported, in February of this year, 16 deaths due to influenza. The common cold kills scores of Americans every year as the elderly often are struck by secondary bacterial respiratory infections. And the Center for Disease Control says that the West Nile Virus is no reason to panic:

Continue reading→

The OC Vector Control District must consider alternatives to spraying in Santa Ana

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Why is the Orange County Vector Control District so gung ho to spray chemicals in Santa Ana’s inner city neighborhoods when the Center for Disease Control says that:

Fortunately, most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms. Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness.

There is ample scientific research that indicates spraying these insecticides isn’t a great idea at all. (See the links below).

But Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero said in an email this week that he wants the spraying to happen. I spoke to Mayor Miguel Pulido yesterday and he is so far the only Santa Ana Council Member who is fighting the spraying. That is typical as the rest of the City Council is lazy and won’t spend much time on this – even though my sources say they are all being inundated with calls and emails thanks to our articles. We need to keep the pressure up! The contact info for all of the local elected officials is at the end of this post. Continue reading→

How we stopped the mosquito spraying operation in Santa Ana

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Editor Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Santa Ana Mosquito Gate

Officially the Orange County Vector Control District is saying that they canceled this week’s proposed mosquito insecticide spraying due to the weather and while it is true that the weather this week is not optimal for spraying the insecticide in question there is a lot more to this story.

When I first posted the first press release, last Friday, announcing that the mosquito spraying operation was going to begin this Monday, Sep. 8, 2014, I wondered why only Santa Ana was being targeted. I later received a phone call from a former Santa Ana Council Member asking me to follow up the press release with more information about the spraying in question.

I wrote that post and posted the link on the Facebook pages of various local elected officials and community/political organizations. The post included a full list of the local elected officials including their Facebook pages, phone numbers and both personal and government emails. And then the Facebook community responded… Continue reading→

Update: Santa Ana mosquito spraying canceled for week of Sep. 8-11

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Environment, Health and Medical, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Orange County Vector Control District

Adult Mosquito Control To Be Conducted In The City of Santa Ana

*** UPDATE 8/9/14 ***

Due to the current weather conditions, the Orange County Vector Control District has cancelled adult mosquito control applications in the City of Santa Ana until further notice. Two weather conditions are required for a successful adulticide application. The first is an inversion layer of hot and cold air during the evening hours that aid in keeping the fog close to the ground. The second is proper wind speeds between 5-10 mph. Based on current and 10-day forecasts, neither of these conditions will be met in the scheduled application period of September 8th-11th, 2014.

The District remains committed to providing the citizens of Orange County with the highest level of protect from vectors and vector-borne disease. Mosquito control is shared responsibility, and as such, every citizen has a role to play in reducing the threat of West Nile virus. Follow these recommendations to help protect you and your community: Continue reading→

Santa Ana targeted for advanced West Nile Virus prevention measures

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC West Nile Virus Human Infection Map

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: ADVANCED WEST NILE VIRUS PREVENTION MEASURES TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, CA (September 5, 2014) – Orange County is currently experiencing the highest level of West Nile virus infection in mosquitoes ever recorded in the county. West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infection can cause severe illness and permanent disabilities, and in rare cases, can result in death.

Despite collaborative efforts with the Orange County Vector Control District to reduce mosquito-breeding sources, expand education to residents, conduct aerial surveillance for out-of-service swimming pools, and intensifying immature mosquito control, the rate of infection in both mosquitoes and birds remains abnormally high. Continue reading→

Orange County reports West Nile Virus related fatality

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County Leave a comment

West Nile Virus

Orange County Health Care Agency

For Immediate Release: August 26, 2014

Contact: Deanne Thompson dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Orange County Reports West Nile Virus Related Fatality

West Nile Virus Activity throughout the County is Increasing

(Santa Ana) – A Seal Beach resident in her 80s with underlying medical conditions died last week with complications of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection. Test results received this week confirmed WNV infection; of which she had the more severe form, West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease. Orange County currently leads the state in number of WNV infections this year with 40 to date, compared to fewer than 5 infections around this time in the previous four years.

“This unfortunate death shows how serious West Nile Virus infection can be,” said Dr. Eric G. Handler, County Health Officer. “West Nile Virus activity tends to peak in August and September in Orange County, but we continue to have cases occur throughout the fall. It is important for people to remember that the end of summer does not mean the end of West Nile Virus season.” Continue reading→

West Nile Virus prevention tips

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Santa Ana Leave a comment

West Nile Virus

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: West Nile Virus Prevention Tips

Orange County Vector Control has reported that five county residents have tested positive for West Nile Virus – some of which were found in Santa Ana. The City of Santa Ana is working closely with Orange County Vector Control to prevent West Nile Virus infection but the City needs your help.

Here is what you can do to lower your risks: Continue reading→

First human West Nile Virus case of 2014 reported in Santa Ana

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY REPORTS FIRST HUMAN WEST NILE VIRUS CASE OF 2014

(Santa Ana) – A Santa Ana man has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the County’s first human WNV infection in 2014. This is the 10th human case of WNV reported in California. The man was admitted to the hospital in late June with symptoms of West Nile Virus, and is now at home recovering.

In 2013, there were 12 reported human infections of West Nile Virus and zero WNV related deaths reported in Orange County.

“West Nile Virus is endemic in Orange County, recurring every year during the summer months and continuing into the fall,” said Dr. Eric G. Handler, County Health Officer. “The best way to avoid West Nile Virus infection is to take precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites.”

Recommended WNV precautions include: Continue reading→

OC Health Care Agency reports the first 2013 case of Human West Nile Virus

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

West Nile Virus Mosquito

Orange County Health Care Agency, Press Release

ORANGE COUNTY REPORTS FIRST HUMAN WEST NILE VIRUS CASE OF 2013

(Santa Ana) – A Cypress female in her sixties has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the County’s first human WNV infection in 2013. This is the 15th human case of WNV reported in California. The woman was admitted to the hospital in July with symptoms of West Nile Virus, and is now at home recovering.

In 2012, there were 48 reported human infections of West Nile Virus and two WNV related deaths reported in Orange County. Continue reading→

West Nile Virus activity increasing in Orange County

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: September 7, 2012

Contact: Deanne Thompson, 714-834-2178, dthompson@ochca.com

WEST NILE VIRUS ACTIVITY INCREASING IN ORANGE COUNTY

(Santa Ana) – West Nile Virus (WNV) activity is increasing in Orange County, with a total of six human WNV infections reported through September 6. Included in the total are 3 probable cases and 3 confirmed cases, including 2 positive blood donors who did not develop symptoms. Most of these cases experienced an onset of symptoms in mid- to late August, indicating a recent increase in activity. Continue reading→