What can be done to prevent spread of West Nile virus?

With the warmer weather and the longer days, many are spending more time outdoors. But with the additional sunshine comes more mosquitos, and with more mosquitos comes a higher likelihood of the contracting West Nile virus.

On an average year, the season will begin in April and end in September.

But this year, even though the West Nile virus season began earlier than expected due to warm weather in March, there are steps that can be taken to reduce mosquito breeding.

The first dead crow to test positive for West Nile virus this season was found in Sacramento Count on March 19.

"Seeing the bird in March was sort of a red flag for us," said Luz Rodriguez, public information officer at Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Rodriguez said that, since it is the beginning of mosquito season, it is hard to predict whether there will be few or many outbreaks of the virus, but the district will take as many preventative measures as possible.

When mosquito eggs are found, the district will often take mosquito fish to the bodies of water and let them take care of the problem.

According to Rodriguez, the fish are planted about twice a season and can be left alone for as long as needed. The most common places mosquito eggs are found include catch basins, vacated homes and rice fields.

Draining standing water from pet bowls, bird baths, old tires and plastic pools will eliminate places for mosquitos to lay eggs. Rodriguez added that many people often forget that water left in gutters and storm drains can become places for mosquitos as well.

Mosquitos can lay eggs in a teaspoon of water, so even puddles on lawns can be possible hatcheries. This means a five-gallon bucket can have up to 1000 mosquitos in a week, Rodriguez said.

The mosquito eggs resemble small grains of black rice or chunks of black material. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae look like little black wiggley things on the surface of water. Within a few days, the larvae have gone through the pupae stage and are grown mosquitos, according to the Center for Disease Control Web site.

If mosquito eggs are found in bodies of water around the home, Rodriguez said, dumping out the water will cause the eggs to die and prevent the problem from spreading.

Removing standing water is not the only way to help reduce the likelihood of West Nile.

Mosquitos are often out during dawn and dusk, so if people are outdoors, they should be wearing insect repellent containing N,N-diethyl-mta-toluamide, more commonly known as DEET or long clothing, Rodriguez said.

In addition, the CDC recommends keeping mosquitos out by having well-fitted screens on windows and doors, and asks that the public report dead birds.

Dead birds can be reported to your state or local health department. In Lodi call the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District at 209-982-4675 and in Galt, call the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District at 1-800-429-1022.