Warm weather is here, bringing with it outdoor fun and, unfortunately, mosquitoes and disease risks. The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District has confirmed West Nile virus in a mosquito sample collected in the city of Long Beach (90808 zip code), and urges residents to take precautions against mosquito bites when spending time outdoors.

This confirmation serves as a reminder that mosquitoes in Los Angeles County are actively carrying West Nile virus and can infect people.

“Mosquitoes may seem inconsequential,” said Levy Sun, public information officer at GLACVCD. “But their bites add the risk of becoming ill from a mosquito-borne virus, such as West Nile virus.”

Many mosquito repellents are available to prevent bites, but they do not all work equally well. The Centers for Disease Control recommend products with the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus as being safe and effective against mosquitoes that can transmit disease when used according to the labels. Wearing loose-fitting long sleeves and pants can also help deter bites.

Eliminating mosquitoes from properties is also important. Any water left standing for more than one week in containers such as flower pots, fountains and pet dishes provides the perfect breeding habitat for mosquitoes. GLACVCD would like to remind residents that even the smallest water source can contribute to a large public health problem.

Residents must take an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their neighborhoods by taking the following steps:

* Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week

* Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained

* Change the water in pet dishes, birdbaths and other small containers weekly

* Request FREE mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds

* Wear insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present

* Report neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district

For more information, residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656 or online at www.glacvcd.org.

About West Nile virus:

According to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, West Nile virus is a leading cause of severe infections of the nervous system among adults older than age 50 in Los Angeles County.

WNV is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no cure for WNV. One in five persons infected with the virus will exhibit symptoms. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash. These symptoms can last for several days to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death.