Just one month after city officials have found mosquitoes harboring the West Nile disease in an area that included part of downtown, the Vector Control District and San Mateo County Mosquito collected infected mosquitoes specimens again, Monday, Aug 31, in a section to the east. In late July West Nile was also found in Fremont and in early August in Redwood City.
According to Menlo Park city officials, it is confirmed that West Nile virus has been detected in the city again. The city officials announced the local population that fogging will take place from 9 pm until 5 am on Wednesday, Sept 2. Also on Thursday it is planned to fog in a primarily residential section bounded by Palo Alto Avenue to the south, Ravenswood Avenue to the north and Coleman Avenue to the east and Alma Street to the west. Locals in the area may find a complete map of the treatment area at https://tinyurl.com/mpfogging.
According to scientists, the summer months are the peak season for West Nile. The virus is replicating in mosquitoes during hotter temperatures. For this reason, there tend to be more cases of West Nile virus signaled in the South Bay than the north, according to district spokeswoman Megan Caldwell.
From the district's website, we can find out that the synthetic chemical used in the fogging is Zenivex E4. According to reports, this substance poses very little risk to humans or the environment. Zenivex E4 is applied in low doses and most of the substance "evaporates or breaks down before settling on surfaces."
Fogging takes place usually in the early-morning hours when beneficial insects, such as butterflies and bees are inactive, according to the website. The West Nile virus can be transmitted to humans from a mosquito bite, and for this reason the residents of the areas where mosquitoes carriers of the virus have been found are urged to apply insect repellent containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin, or IR 3535. It is also recommended to drain any standing water around the exterior of the houses and keep windows and doors closed.
The district's website also recommends to those residents who spot freshly dead tree squirrels or birds to call the district at the numbers listed on the website for assistance with mosquito problems in Menlo Park. Dead animals or birds are a possible sign of fatalities from infection with West Nile.
