From Champion Newspapers
July 11, 2020

From USA Today
July 10, 2020

Hundreds of people in Washington State have reported suspected “murder hornet” sightings in the months since the insect was first spotted in the U.S., stirring panic in a nation already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak.

But only five of those reports were bona fide Asian giant hornets, the 2-inch-long invasive species that slaughters honeybees and can be deadly to humans, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

“Unfortunately, while their intentions are good, many people have killed and submitted many insects that are NOT Asian giant hornets,” entomologists Quin Baine and Chris Looney said in mid-June. “Not only are most of these insects not harmful, they play an important role in the environment.”

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From KTLA
July 10, 2020

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been found in three Orange County cities, the county’s Mosquito and Vector Control District said Thursday.

Chip Yost reports for the KTLA 5 News at 3 on July 10, 2020.

Watch here

From NBC Los Angeles
July 8, 2020

With potentially deadly mosquito-borne viruses continuing to be detected in the Coachella Valley, vector control officials are planning to carry out further pesticide spray applications beginning tomorrow.

Targeted mosquito eradication efforts are scheduled Thursday through Saturday from 2 a.m to 6 a.m. in Palm Desert and Indian Wells, near where mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis were previously collected from traps, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

In Palm Desert, crews will concentrate their efforts generally in residential neighborhoods near Highway 74 and Haystack Road. Efforts in La Quinta will take place in residential neighborhoods southwest of Portola Avenue
and Fairway Drive.

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From U.S. News and World Report
July 7, 2020

From the Long Beach Post
July 7, 2020

From KGET
July 7, 2020

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern Mosquito and Vector Control on Monday said mosquitoes trapped east of Arvin have tested positive for the West Nile virus.

Additionally, a species of mosquito that is new to Kern has arrived. Called the Aedes aegypti, it’s a tiny, aggressive bug that feeds multiple times, said Terry Knight of Vector Control.

No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Kern so far this year. Knight recommended wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors, and draining any standing water near residences to stop them from breeding.

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From The Conversation
July 7, 2020

Panic-stricken headlines about “murder hornets” are thankfully mostly behind us. The nickname may have staying power, but it is certainly unearned.

First spotted in British Columbia in August 2019, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) poses little threat to humans. In its native range in East Asia, the giant hornet is chiefly a menace to the livelihoods of beekeepers, provoking concern that it could cause similar problems in North America.

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From KGET
July 5, 2020

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — County health officials are asking residents to safeguard their homes against possible breeding sites for mosquitoes and to protect themselves from the risk of acquiring the West Nile virus.

The best way to avoid the West Nile Virus, the county says, is to avoid mosquito bites, and reducing spots where they can breed.

Officials say residents should:

• Remove standing or stagnate water from containers. Flowerpots, fountains, birdbaths, pet bowls, and other containers — even gardening tools and toys — can collect water.
• Clean and scrub containers that collect water to remove eggs.
• Maintain swimming pools in working condition.
• If you have a garden pond, stock them with fish that eat mosquito larvae. You vector control district can provide free fish.
• Report areas of mosquito infestation to your local vector control district.

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From the Merced Sun-Star
July 4, 2020

A mosquito capable of transmitting several human diseases — including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika — was found this week in Le Grand, according to the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District .

The district said the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito has now been found in three areas of Merced County since 2017, according to a news release.

The district is evaluating the extent of the infestation and will aggressively target problem areas to prevent its spread.

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From the Desert Sun
July 3, 2020

Additional mosquitoes trapped in the Coachella Valley tested positive for West Nile virus, this time in Indian Wells, officials said Thursday.

The mosquitoes were collected from traps near Vintage Drive and Portola Avenue, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

Indian Wells is the third Coachella Valley city where West Nile virus has been detected this year. In June, mosquitoes positive for the virus were reported in Palm Desert and Cathedral City.

This year, 21 mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus. The Coachella Valley has no reported human cases of West Nile, which is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito.

“Impacts of COVID-19 on staff resulted in the District suspending services for two weeks so residents across the valley need to help us and protect themselves against mosquito bites,” said Tammy Gordon, a district spokeswoman. “Avoid spending time outdoors at dawn and dusk. If you have to be outdoors, wear long sleeves and apply bug spray.”

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From Late Night Health
July 2, 2020

MVCAC President Peter Bonkrude joins Mark Alyn on Late Night Health to answer the question: “Can You Get Covid-19 From Mosquitos?”

Mosquito experts say the increased attention on public health is an excellent reminder that there are many ways for residents to protect themselves from mosquito-transmitted diseases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), to date, there is no data to suggest that COVID-19 is spread by mosquitoes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the main way that COVID-19 spreads is from person to person.

While COVID-19 is not transmitted by mosquitoes, they can transmit several other diseases such as West Nile virus. There is no human vaccine for this disease which can cause debilitating cases of meningitis, encephalitis, and even death. Also, newly established invasive Aedes mosquitoes can transmit viruses such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika, all of which are costly to treat and can have long-term health and financial consequences.

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From EurasiaReview
July 2, 2020

As Brazilian athletes were preparing for the upcoming Summer Olympics, a growing global health crisis shifted the government’s attention from winning gold medals to securing testing kits. On February 16th, the Brazilian government ordered the deployment of 220,000 soldiers to hand out educational material to citizens on how to combat the new virus that was ravaging the country, a strategy that proved effective in mitigating the spread of the disease. The year was 2016, and Zika virus was the disease.

Four years later, Brazil is losing the battle against a more formidable enemy, COVID-19. The country has the world’s second-highest death toll, having surpassed the United Kingdom as deaths reached 44,000. As the situation becomes grimmer by the day, President Jair Bolsonaro has chosen to replace his two previous health ministers with an army general to lead the country to battle, even though he lacks a background in public health or medicine. The president, himself a retired army captain who has fondly romanticized the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985, has downplayed the pandemic, calling it a “little flu.” Thus far, Brazil’s COVID-19 response has been so botched that on May 26, President Donald Trump, long-time Bolsonaro ally, prohibited the entry of foreign Brazilian nationals into the United States due to an increased risk of transmission.

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From Komonews
July 1, 2020

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — About 600 traps to catch invasive Asian giant hornets are being placed in Whatcom County by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, more than doubling the number already set out by citizens.

The Capital Press reports the state traps are being placed around Blaine, Custer and Bellingham, the only places in the U.S. that the giant hornet has been found.

The traps are being put on the edge of forested areas.

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From ABC 10 San Diego
July 1, 2020

Heather Hyland, a self-proclaimed bug nerd, has found a love for mosquitos despite the diseases they carry.

“I have loved bugs I would say since I was about 2 years old,” Hyland said.

Initially a public information officer for the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Southern California, she said her bug fascination was because so many people don’t like them. So, as a child, Hyland thought, someone should love them. That love turned into entomology.

“They’re so interesting. They’re these intricate little tiny bugs with the capability to do big things. If you look at how prehistoric a mosquito is, it has six mouth parts. There’s so many different things they can do that are big,” Hyland said.

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From EquiManagement
June 29, 2020

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has confirmed one case of West Nile virus (WNV) in Amador County.

The confirmed WNV case was in a 20-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that had onset of clinical signs of June 19 that included ataxia, hind limb ataxia and neurologic signs. The gelding was confirmed on June 26. He was alive and affected at the time of this report.

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From The Guardian
June 25, 2020

It took Moufida and John Holubeshen just a day of tracing alleged sightings and studying map coordinates before the two amateur detectives found their target.

“We did the whole CSI thing,” says Moufida. “Plotting points and drawing lines, searching for where the middle of the circle – the nest – would be.”

The couple, like hundreds of other beekeepers in western Canada and the US, were hunting the Asian giant hornet, an invasive species whose stealthy advance throughout British Columbia and Washington state is causing growing unease.

Scientists and apiarists fear that, if permitted to spread unchecked, the hornets, which feast on honeybee larvae, could have disastrous consequences for tens of thousands of hives.

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From SciDevNet
June 25, 2020

Zika virus can hamper vital collagen development in the brains of babies whose mothers were infected with the disease while pregnant, new research reveals, as the search for a vaccine continues.

Collagen is crucial to the circulatory system, as it regulates the compression of blood vessels. A large amount of the collagen found in the human brain is located inside vein tissue.

The research findings could explain the deaths of babies with microcephaly, a birth defect that causes a baby to be born with a smaller head and often smaller brains that may not have developed properly.

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From the Los Angeles Daily News
June 22, 2020

Los Angeles County officials are generating some buzz for National Mosquito Control Awareness Week to remind residents to protect themselves from the biting insect and the diseases it can transmit.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) reminded Angelenos Monday to take action against the bugs by removing standing water and wearing repellent, which can help prevent itchy bites as well as mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus.

GLACVCD is getting the word out through a #TipTossTakeAction summer campaign launched as part of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (June 21-27).

“The #TipTossTakeAction campaign allows residents and city officials to take an active role in protecting their communities by working closely with GLACVCD staff,” GLACVCD Community Affairs Director Mary-Joy Coburn said.

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From CBS Sacramento
June 22, 2020

STANISLAUS COUNTY (CBS13) — Two human cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Stanislaus County, officials said on Monday.

According to a release from the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, two men were recently tested and confirmed to have the virus. Both of the men were not showing any symptoms of the potentially deadly disease.

The two cases are the first two confirmed West Nile Virus cases confirmed in Stanislaus County this season.

West Nile Virus often spreads to people and animals through mosquito bites. It’s a disease that sees an increase in cases come the summer months.

While most people will only develop symptoms like headache, fever and fatigue, less than 1 percent of cases could develop into more serious complications.

This season, health officials say at least 10 California counts have been confirmed with West Nile virus through testing of dead birds and mosquito samples.

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From Pasadena Now
June 22, 2020

Mosquitoes were four times higher in numbers last week in San Gabriel Valley than they were in 2018 and 2019, data from the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGVMVCD) showed.

The data was reported out Sunday, as Pasadena begins to observe National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 21-28. The SGVMVCD obtained from mosquito surveillance traps examined between June 8 and 12 at various sites within the Valley, including Pasadena.

The SGVMVCD said they have tested mosquitoes collected in Hacienda Heights, the second largest census designated place in Los Angeles County, positive for carrying West Nile virus.

In Orange County, mosquito control officials confirmed they are detecting five times the average mosquitoes in their surveillance traps compared to 2019.

To prevent the spread of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, the SGVMVCD advocates for three simple steps that residents should practice: Tip, Toss and Protect – Tip out stagnant water, Toss unused containers that can collect stagnant water, and Protect yourself from mosquito bites by using repellent.

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From KCRA 3
June 22, 2020

It’s that time of year — the mosquitoes are out.

San Joaquin County officials are trying to reduce the number of mosquito populations with free fish.

This week, mosquito and vector control is handing out mosquitofish.

The fish can be put in ornamental ponds, animal water troughs and neglected water pools, where they eat mosquito larvae. According to county officials, the fish can consume 100 to 500 mosquito larvae per day.

People can get up to 15 fish along with a small bag of fish food and informational brochures.

Those interested can contact the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District for delivery information and the distribution schedule.

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From the Mercury News
June 19, 2020

SANTA CLARA – A swath of Santa Clara is set to be sprayed after mosquitoes there tested positive for West Nile Virus.

The infected insects were collected from portions of the 95054, 95051 and 95050 ZIP code areas, the Santa Clara County Vector Control District said in a news release.

The district said the target zone is largely industrial and commercial, with about 10 percent residential. It is bounded by Montague Expressway and Walsh Avenue to the north, De La Cruz Boulevard and West Trimble Road to the east, Warburton Avenue to the south and Bowers Avenue to the west.

The spraying operation is slated to begin at 10 p.m. Tuesday and will take three hours to complete.

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From the Elk Grove Citizen
June 19, 2020

A mosquito sample tested positive for the West Nile Virus in Elk Grove, local mosquito control officials announced on June 10. This marks the first time that the virus was detected in mosquitoes in Sacramento County this year.

Gary Goodman, the general manager of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, said mosquito activity has increased during the recent, hot weather.

“It’s important for residents to take these findings seriously and do everything they can to protect themselves,” he said in a press statement.  

West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus that infects humans and cause flulike symptoms in mild cases, and can become lethal in severe cases. There were 225 confirmed West Nile human cases and six deaths in California last year, Goodman’s district staff reported.

West Nile has been detected in mosquitoes and dead birds in Sacramento and Yolo counties over the past 15 years.

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From News 3 Las Vegas
June 19th, 2020

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As if 2020 wasn’t hard enough already, West Nile Virus is back for another summer.

According to the Southern Nevada Health District 26 mosquitos tested positive last week.

All of them captured in the 89120 zip code.

An area that includes Sunset Park.

That’s where Kyara Solorzano was fishing Friday morning.

“I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never been fishing here,” she says,

While the fish weren’t biting, fortunately neither were the mosquitos.

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From the Daily Republic
June 19, 2020

FAIRFIELD — West Nile is not the only concern as mosquito season starts to take hold.

Chikungunya, dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika, all of which are costly to treat and can have long-term health and financial consequences, can be transmitted by infected mosquitos, which are known to be in California and are expanding their range.

Richard Snyder, manager of the Solano County Mosquito Abatement District, said the invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been found in neighboring counties, but not in Solano.

“They are in Sacramento County right now, and San Joaquin County,” Snyder said. “We have been actively surveilling for them with trapping methods, and hoping we don’t find any.”

Generally speaking, Snyder said, the mosquitoes are brought into a county by humans.

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From CGTN
June 19, 2020

As the coronavirus continues leaving a trail of devastation behind globally, another deadly virus is rearing its ugly head in South Asia – dengue fever. 

The monsoon months in the region, between late May and September, bring much needed rain but also mosquito-borne diseases. And this includes dengue fever, an illness caused by an infection with a virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which currently has no cure. 

Even without the backdrop of a global pandemic, dengue cases have seen a dramatic spike in the past decade due to erratic storms, rising global temperatures, and unplanned rapid urbanization. Last month alone, India and Bangladesh were hit by the biggest storm in 20 years, forcing five million to evacuate. 

An estimated 400 million dengue infections happen around the world each year, killing some 25,000 people annually. According to the World Health Organization, 2019 saw the most number of cases reported, with Asian countries bearing approximately 70 percent of the disease burden.

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From FOX 11
June 18, 2020

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A perfect storm of events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have boosted the mosquito population in Orange County, vector control officials said Wednesday.

Light misty rains in May, higher than usual spring temperatures, reductions in staffing due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the economic downturn discouraging residents from more regular cleaning of their pools are among the reasons for the higher mosquito counts, said Heather Hyland, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

For the past six weeks, the OCMVCD has been averaging higher mosquito counts compared with the same period last year. The district’s traps are averaging 110 mosquitoes per trap, compared to 24 per trap last year at this time.

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From KXAN
June 17, 2020

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mostly-harmless Cicada killer wasps that emerge in Texas every summer are being confused for so-called Asian “murder hornets” that have caused panic in the United States, an entomologist has said.

She said there’s no need to worry here in Texas because the giant hornets, which can reach up to two inches in length, have not been found in the U.S. outside of Washington state.

Despite their name, cicada killer wasps are mostly harmless to humans – their name comes from their hunting of cicadas.

Entomologist Wizzie Brown said people have been emailing her with concerns about the cicada killers, which are being mistaken for the Asian giant hornets due to their large size and distinctive coloring.

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From KTLA
June 16, 2020

Orange County has seen an an uptick in mosquito activity in urban and coastal areas, recording higher than average counts of the bloodthirsty insect for six straight weeks, officials said Tuesday.

This year’s mosquito count is nearly five times higher than last year’s and double the county’s five-year average, according to a news release from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Collection traps have captured an average of 110 mosquitoes each, compared to 24 per trap at this time last year, the release stated.

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From Capital Press
June 10, 2020

The U.S. has 3,141 counties, but just one, Whatcom County in northern Washington state, has documented sightings of the Asian giant hornet, dubbed “murder hornet.” Even there, only three specimens have been confirmed.

But news reports about the hornets that went viral early May have sparked nationwide panic. For over a month, entomologists coast to coast have been swamped with questions and false sightings, and they say the frenzy has prompted a backlash: people are indiscriminately killing beneficial bumble bees, wasps, hornets and native species.

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From Nature World News
June 10, 2020

The findings of a new study show that a residual spray that contains a combination of perlite, a type of volcanic glass, and water is effective against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The study results can help reduce the populations of these mosquitoes in Africa and thereby reduce the risk of malaria.

According to the study, malaria is a fatal mosquito-borne disease and a primary cause of death of sub-Saharan Africans. This disease is also competing against TB and AIDS as the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

Malaria deaths in Africa have significantly gone down from an annual rate of 1.8 million deaths to an estimated of only half a million in 2020 through a combination of bed nets and indoor spraying. However, malaria-carrying mosquitoes are showing widespread resistance to pyrethroids and increasing resistance to recommended insecticides by the World Health Organization.

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From The Sacramento Bee
June 10, 2020

The year’s first mosquito sample revealed that insects carrying the West Nile virus already have arrived in the Elk Grove area.

“The very warm weather we’ve had recently increased the number of mosquitoes and accelerated virus activity,” said Gary Goodman, the manager of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. “It’s important for residents to take these findings seriously and do everything they can to protect themselves.”

This news comes even as the Sacramento region is seeing an increase in cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

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From EurekAlert!
June 9, 2020

Leuven researchers have deployed synthetic amyloids to trigger protein misfolding as a strategy to combat the influenza A and Zika virus.

Amyloids are particular protein assemblies with properties similar to silk, that serve numerous functions. They also form upon protein misfolding resulting in protein inactivation.

Frederic Rousseau and Joost Schymkowitz (VIB-KU Leuven) used these properties to invent synthetic amyloid peptides that can be tailored to switch-off the function of desired target proteins. These peptides, termed Pept-ins, already proved to be a valuable approach to tackle bacterial pathogens or slow down tumor growth. Now, Schymkowitz and Rousseau’s team wanted to explore whether pept-ins could also be used to inactivate viral proteins and thereby interfere with viral replication.

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From KPIX
June 9, 2020

MILPITAS (CBS SF) – Crews with Santa Clara County Vector Control plan to spray mosquito control treatments in parts of Milpitas later this week, after insects that have the West Nile Virus were found.

Mosquitoes collected in the 95035 zip code tested positive for the virus, officials said in a statement Monday.

In response, spraying will take place late Thursday night in an area bordered by Dixon Landing Road to the north, North Milpitas Boulevard and North Abel Street to the east, Highway 237 and Bellew Drive to the west and North McCarthy Boulevard to the West.

People living in the area do not need to relocate, but are urged to stay inside their homes to minimize exposure, Vector Control said. The chemicals, which are widely used by other Vector Control agencies, have been approved by state and federal regulators.

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From the Milpitas Patch
June 8, 2020

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – The County of Santa Clara Vector Control District has confirmed West Nile virus (WNV) positive tests in adult mosquitoes collected from portions of the 95035 ZIP code area that includes part of the City of Milpitas. As a result, a truck-mounted adult mosquito control treatment has been scheduled in the area to prevent human cases of WNV. Weather permitting, the ground operations are scheduled for approximately 11 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, and will conclude a few hours later. See area treatment map.

The District is adhering to all recommendations from the Centers for Diseases Control and the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will be conducting the treatment in accordance to those guidelines.

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From KESQ
June 5, 2020

More mosquito traps have tested positive for the West Nile virus in our valley.

“Yes, lots of them hordes of them…swarms,” said Diane Mann.

West Nile virus mosquitos are now found in Cathedral City, La Quinta, Indio and Palm Desert. 

One resident showing us of his recent bites. 

“I get mosquito bites all the time for the last two weeks actually,” said Efrain Garcia.

According  the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, 15 mosquito traps valley wide have been tested positive for the West Nile virus including 38 infected mosquitos found in Cathedral City on Friday. 

“As temperatures rise up so will the mosquito numbers and as birds migrate, which is mosquitos favorite food, they carry WNV and St. louis encephalitis virus (slev),” said Tammy Gordon.

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From KPBS
June 5, 2020

A mosquito caught in routine trapping in the Black Mountain Ranch area has tested positive for West Nile virus, the first appearance of the virus in San Diego County in 2020.

County environmental health officials remind people to protect themselves from mosquitoes, which can potentially transmit the disease, by following the county’s “Prevent, Protect, Report” guidelines — including finding and dumping out standing water in yards and around homes to keep mosquitoes from breeding.

Incidences of West Nile virus were mild in San Diego County in 2019. Three people tested positive, but there were no fatalities and all three people were suspected of having contracted the virus while outside the county.

However, West Nile virus remains a potentially deadly threat in San Diego County and the state, officials said. In 2015, 44 San Diego County residents tested positive for West Nile virus and six died. In 2019, 225 California residents became sick from West Nile virus and six died, according to the California Department of Public Health.

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From San Joaquin County MVCD
June 4, 2020

(STOCKTON, CA) – San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s (District) mosquito-borne disease surveillance program confirmed a West Nile virus (WNV) positive bird found in zip code 95219. “With this being the first evidence of WNV this year in San Joaquin County, residents need to take precaution to 1) prevent mosquito development around homes and, 2) prevent mosquito bites. After all, mosquito control is everyone’s responsibility,” said Aaron Devencenzi, Public Information Officer of the District.

“Adult mosquito control activities will increase in accordance with our surveillance results,” said Devencenzi.

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From the Harvard Gazette
June 4, 2020

They’re here. Native to East Asia, the so-called murder hornets were spotted in North America for the first time late last year and just again in May. The presence of the predators, which can grow as much as 2 inches in length, drew media attention because their frightening prowess at killing honeybees means they could adversely affect the supply of foods we consume that require pollination. Known officially as the Asian giant hornet, the species is capable of wiping out an entire hive in a matter of hours, decapitating bees with powerful mandibles and hauling away the thoraxes to feed their young. The hornets are less of a direct threat to humans, although they do kill about 50 people a year in Japan, where they are most prevalent.

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From WBCK
June 4, 2020

Kalamazoo County health officials announced details of the current mosquito surveillance program for this summer. In order to detect any evidence of potential carriers of the Zika virus, traps are being placed throughout the county, and with the aid of Michigan State University, carriers of the EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) virus will also be identified. The program will continue through September. Last year, vast areas of Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties were sprayed from the air to fight mosquitos carrying the Zika virus.

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From Zika News
June 4, 2020

As the COVID-19 disease pandemic dominates the world media headlines, the Zika virus has steadily put women and children at grave risk in the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Recently, Brazil’s Ministry of Health identified 579 new suspected cases of Zika between December 2019 and February 2020.

This is concerning news since a ‘Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause congenital conditions in infants,’ said Human Rights (HRW), on May 28, 2020.

Due to the Zika virus, more than 1,600 babies were born in Brazil with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, from September 2015 through April 2016.

Brazil’s Zika epidemic took health professionals by surprise because the virus had been known since 1947 and was not linked to birth defects.

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From the Fresno Bee
June 4, 2020

West Nile virus has again been detected in mosquitoes in Fresno, county health officials announced Thursday.

“This confirmation is a strong reminder that everyone should take this disease seriously and should take every precaution to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” said Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County Department of Public Health’s interim health officer.

The mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus were collected from an area around the 93704 zip code, which runs through the center of Fresno, extending from around Fresno City College in the south to Herndon Avenue in north Fresno.

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From FOX 26 News
June 4, 2020

FRESNO, Calif (FOX26) — The Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District notified the Fresno County Department of Public Health of West Nile virus-positive tests in adult mosquitoes collected from an area around portions of the 93704 zip code area that is within the City of Fresno.

“This confirmation is a strong reminder that everyone should take this disease seriously and should take every precaution to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” says Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County Department of Public Health Interim Health Officer.

The FCDPH recommends that individuals contact their local mosquito control district regarding standing water or mosquito problems, as well as to report any neglected swimming pools.

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