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Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vectors Control District Seeking West Nile Virus
Palm Springs Desert Sun

Helicopter mosquito treatments were underway Tuesday in Palm Springs, while mosquito-borne viruses continue to be detected in large numbers in the Coachella Valley, officials said.

The treatments come after last week's announcement that Robert Mears, 74, of Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea coast died of West Nile virus in a San Diego hospital. He is the first known person to die of West Nile virus in California this year.

The total number of positive West Nile virus samples in the Coachella Valley so far this year is greater than the last four years combined, said last week the mosquito control district spokeswoman and Coachella Valley vectors, Tammy Gordon.

Counties in green have positive test results for West Nile virus samples. Riverside County is leading the state with 284 mosquito samples this year. (Photo: Source: WestNile.CA.gov)

Mosquitoes carrying the St. Louis encephalitis virus have also been detected. Both diseases are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.

The Coachella Valley mosquito and vector control district is planning larval aerial applications every Tuesday and Wednesday for four weeks. They started Tuesday morning. Applications are scheduled between 02:00 and 19:00, although they can take place between 20:00 and 20:00. the day before and 8am

The field of application is within the boundaries of Ramon Road, Gene Autry Trail, Sierra Way and the mountains.

The district has already performed helicopter treatments last week in the eastern Coachella Valley, near the north coast of the Salton Sea, and plans to continue them for another two weeks.

These applications must take place between 71 Avenue, Garfield Street, 74 Avenue and Johnson Street every Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 8:00 pm and 8:00 pm. and midnight, although they can continue until 8 o'clock in the morning.

"The main goal of the district is to protect the community from mosquito-borne diseases," said Jeremy Wittie, district director general. "With the first human death reported in our neighboring county, the District will continue to remain vigilant as this unprecedented year continues."

More: The man from the Salton Sea dies of West Nile virus. Death was the first in California this year of a virus

Mark Kensington, laboratory badistant at the Coachella Valley Vector Control and Mosquito Control District, is separating different mosquito species to identify mosquitoes potentially carrying West Nile virus.

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Mark Kensington, laboratory badistant at the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vectors Control District, is examining different species of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are more numerous because of prolonged rains this season.

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Mark Kensington, laboratory badistant at the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vectors Control District, organizes different mosquito species to examine potential mosquitoes that carry the virus.

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Gerald Chuzel, a biologist at the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vectors Control District, is recovering mosquitoes from a trap ready for examination.

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Mark Kensington, laboratory badistant at the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vectors Control District, examines the invasive mosquito species Aedes aegypti. This species has the potential to carry zika, chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever.

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