As West Nile Activity Ramps Up, Sacramento-Yolo Officials Consider Aerial Spraying
"We are seeing very high levels of West Nile virus activity ... and we are very concerned," says Gary Goodman, of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Sacramento Bee:
West Nile Virus Activity May Prompt Aerial Spraying In Woodland
A decision whether to conduct aerial spraying for mosquitoes in Woodland to control West Nile virus will be made next week, according to the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. West Nile virus activity throughout Yolo County has intensified in the past couple of weeks, with widespread activity in Woodland, Davis, Knights Landing and Dunnigan, officials said Friday. To date, 52 mosquito samples and 20 dead birds have tested positive for the virus in Yolo County. ...Aerial spraying may be necessary next week in Woodland, he said. A decision will be based on continued surveillance over the weekend and lab testing results that will be available Monday. (Locke, 7/22)
Mercury News:
East County Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile
Two groups of mosquitoes in separate East Contra Costa County communities tested positive for West Nile virus, the Contra Costa County Mosquito and Vector Control District reported Friday. One group was found near Knightsen and the other was discovered in Antioch. If they bite humans, the infected mosquitoes can pass along the virus. West Nile virus can cause death. (Cameron, 7/23)
In other public health news —
San Gabriel Valley Tribune:
Sand Fire In Santa Clarita Creates Unhealthy Air Throughout LA County
As residents throughout Los Angeles County awoke to an ash-covered Southland, public health officials warned that the 11,000-acre Sand fire burning in Santa Clarita had created unhealthy air quality in much of Los Angeles County. The Santa Clarita Valley, the San Gabriel Mountains, the West San Gabriel Valley, Pomona, the San Fernando and the Central Los Angeles area were all seeing “poor air quality” as a result of the Sand fire, which broke out Friday, as measured by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (Day, 7/23)
East Bay Times:
Algae In Drinking Water Causes Santa Clara Valley Water Officials To Scramble
Normally at this time of year, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a government agency that provides drinking water and flood protection to 1.9 million people in Santa Clara County, relies heavily on water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta for its supplies. But this year, high levels of algae in the Delta, and also in San Luis Reservoir, a massive lake near Los Banos from which the water district draws some of its supply, began giving the water an earthy taste and smell in late June. So the district essentially closed off the pipe from San Luis, and began taking more drinking water from Coyote Lake and Anderson Reservoir instead. (Rogers, 7/24)
Ventura County Star:
The Old School Farm Serves Up Healthy Meals In Ventura
The proprietor of Salad Bar Farms has neither a salad nor a bar, and not much of a farm, as he stands in the midst of his "back 40" — a fifth of an acre, actually, in a corner of a Ventura school playground...The [pilot project at Balboa Middle School, developed in conjunction with Ventura Unified School District] will kick into higher gear when school begins, with kids involved, quite literally, from the ground up — planting, maintaining, harvesting and packaging organically grown vegetables and fruits for their own school cafeteria. (Nelson, 7/23)