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As reports of intense West Nile virus activity in the Sacramento area, the city of Sacramento has unintentionally accelerated a localized increase in West Nile activity in the Pocket area. and the Vector Control District has confirmed that a disturbance in the flow of water from the pocket cbad to the Sacramento River has caused the proliferation of mosquitoes in the region. Efforts by the city to apply algicide treatment to the pocket cbad caused the water to rupture.
As a result, water accumulated in the sewer entrances in the residential areas of the pocket. Stagnant water in the basins served as an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes during the West Nile virus season.
Strong activity in the region could lead to aerial spraying of West Nile virus next week. It is expected that the district will decide Friday to spray on Pocket / Greenhaven, south of Sacramento and Elk Grove.
West Nile virus is a potentially fatal disease contracted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become carriers of the disease after being fed an infected bird, which acts as the host of the disease.
After residents near the Pocket Cbad complained of an odor in the area during the past summers, the city has determined the proliferation of algae. the channel was the cause. These blooms occur mostly during the summer season, said the Department of Public Services in a statement
To combat odors, the department began to treat the cbad with an algicide June 12.
According to the Department of Public Utilities, "residues spills from algicide applications" allow the city to apply chemical treatments to the waters.
The water is drained from the pocket cbad to the Sacramento River by a pumping station located in Fernando Dueñas, an badociate engineer in the department, explained that officials have attempted to control the amount of copper that s & # 39; 39 flows into the Sacramento River from the treatment of algicides.
"To maximize the effectiveness of algaecide applications, the city closes the downstream pumps that flow into the Sacramento River before any chemical treatment," the statement from the Department of Public Utilities as a result of the city's decision to extinguish the pumps, "the water levels in the pocket channel were rising back into the storm sewer entrances into surrounding neighborhoods," said the Department of Utilities
. The water that accumulates in these arms is designed to be routed into the streams and rivers of local areas.
The collection basin team controls catch basins and drainage arms that collect rainwater runoff. The crew found the first full inflow of water on June 27 and began treatment to kill mosquito populations that day.
"Normally, these ponds would be dry and the crew noticed that there was water. the information officer of Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito District and Vector Control. "They alerted their supervisor and they spoke to the city's public utility department, it was then that they understood that there was a problem."
Basins should be dry, Robles says, otherwise, "they'll be"
"What mosquitoes really like, especially West Nile vectors, are stagnant and rich water mbades. in organic matter, "says Bret Barner, a laboratory technician in the district, adding that mosquito larvae feed on organic matter.
A female mosquito can lay 50 to 200 eggs at a time up to two or three times a week Robles also said that the heat accelerates the life cycle of mosquitoes.
On June 29, the city received a call from the vector control district on channel water levels [19659002] the creeks held water and created mosquito breeding habitat, "said the Department of Public Services." Vector Control also said it confirmed positive West Nile virus samples near the nal. "
The city took quality samples of water, as required by state permit, before putting them back into service on June 29. A second cycle of algicide treatment began on July 9 and the pumping station was cut again.
"We met the Vector Control District a week later on the morning of July 16th to inspect the water levels, need to drain the channel to a lower level before starting the next round of requests." said the department of public services. "The pumping stations were turned on and the water levels dropped on July 17."
Officials from the Department of Public Services emphasized their continued collaboration with the Vector Control District to monitor levels of water. 39; water.
The vector control district identified the Pocket Zone as an area of concern for West Nile virus, although district authorities could not confirm that this was due to problems with the West Nile virus. water flow
in Elk Grove too, and they did not have the water problems there, "Robles said.
Barner, who was in the 4 1/2 year old district, said the pocket is not usually a high-activity area. He said that residents should be concerned.
"Dress properly – long sleeves, long shirts," he said. "Try to avoid going out at dawn and dusk." The mosquito repellent always helps. (Eliminate) any stagnant water on your property. The best thing to do is to prevent mosquitoes to be there. "
The city of Sacramento itself did not alert locals to the increased activity of West Nile virus in the pocket. [19659002Aspokesmanforthecitysaidthedistrict'svectorcontrolisthebodyresponsibleforinformingresidentsaboutcasesandreportsThedistrictisworkingtoinformresidentsasquicklyaspossibleandtheCitycoordinateswiththedistricttosendthesealerts
Robles says she contacts local public information officials for high-activity areas and broadcasts information using Nextdoor, an online social network for individual neighborhoods as well as through if your web and newsletters. have lived in the area for 33 years, said that they discovered that their area had a strong West Nile Virus activity after a neighbor posted on Nextdoor. The neighbor found a dead bird in her garden that tested positive for the virus.
"I'm a little surprised (the city) does not alert residents so people are more cautious, especially with their children, because children are more likely to be in and around. outside at dusk, "said Carole Sepulveda." I think it would be responsible for them to give notice to the neighborhood. "
Other locals, like Harry Gibbons, resident of Pocket, say they're not too worried.But Gibbons also said that he was unaware of the notifications sent by the vector control district on a localized increase.
Recently The vector control district distributed repellent and informative materials at an event in Seymour Park, where numerous mosquito samples – groups of one to 50 mosquitoes – were tested positive for the virus. district has planned to be present at more community events to inform locals.
"Whenever we can, we want to be here (in the community) and answer questions face-to-face," said Robles. "The more you will warn in advance … once you have arrived at the aerial spraying, if that happens, people will not be surprised."
Sacramento County directs the activity of West Nile virus. The most recent figures posted by the vector control district include 67 dead birds and 119 mosquito samples tested positive for the disease in the county. As of July 12, the number of dead birds has risen to 26.
Activity was particularly intense in the Pocket / Greenhaven, Elk Grove and Sacramento area south of Fruitridge Road, which led the district to consider aerial spraying next week. "" In recent weeks, the district has been closely monitoring these areas as the number of infected birds and positive mosquito samples continues to increase, "a press release from the district states. 19659002] Once the decision is made, the district will alert the inhabitants as soon as possible.
The vector control district carried out ground spraying in Yolo and Sacramento counties and badyzed dead birds and birds. mosquito samples to detect the virus Residents can register on the district website to receive notifications of spray activities in their postal code.
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