2 Contra Costa Co. Residents Test Positive For West Nile Virus

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Two people have tested positive for West Nile virus recently in Contra Costa County, along with five dead birds, a chicken and a group of mosquitoes, county mosquito control officials said today. One of the people to test positive was from the eastern part of the county while the other was from the central part of it, according to the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District.

The dead birds were collected from Pleasant Hill, Martinez and Walnut Creek, while the chicken was from Martinez and the mosquitoes were collected from an area near Knightsen, district officials said.

The district encourages residents to reduce the risk of West Nile virus by dumping or draining standing water where they often breed. People should also use mosquito repellents and report dead birds to a state hotline
at (877) 968-2473.

"The West Nile virus season isn't over yet," district scientific programs manager Steve Schutz said in a statement. "People need to take precautions against mosquito bites. Please take our guidelines seriously."

For a list of West Nile virus activity in the county this year, people can visit http://www.contracostamosquito.com/wnv_contra_2017.htm.

By Bay City News

Photo via Shutterstock