News brief
By Daily Bruin Staff
March 10, 2005 9:00 p.m.
West Nile virus found in areamosquitoes; evidence
disease is spreading in California
ONTARIO “”mdash; Mosquitoes captured south of the city tested
positive for West Nile virus, more evidence the potentially deadly
disease is active and spreading in California.
Vector control officials said the mosquitoes were taken Monday
from an insect trap near Grove Avenue and Philadelphia Street.
Preliminary tests at the Chino-based West Valley Mosquito and
Vector Control District showed evidence of the virus.
“˜”˜It’s starting very early,”
district director Min-Lee Cheng said of the 2005 West Nile mosquito
season.
Last year, the state Department of Health Services confirmed 829
human cases of West Nile.
The disease killed 27 Californians last year, and 88 across the
nation.
About 80 percent of those who contract West Nile exhibit no
symptoms.
Compiled from Bruin wire services.
