(FOX40.COM) \u2014 Mosquito season is officially underway and experts said it\u2019s here earlier than normal.<\/p>\n
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District confirmed the season\u2019s first sample of mosquitoes has tested positive for West Nile virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an early indicator that it might be a very busy season ahead,\u201d Luz Maria Robles, a spokesperson for the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, said.<\/p>\n
The positive sample came just south of Tahoe Park in Sacramento. The district said the area\u2019s warm weather and rain from a little while back helped create the perfect breeding ground for growing mosquito populations and a head start to the busy season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWest Nile virus is a seasonal virus and it can infect birds,\u201d Dr. Dean Blumberg with UC Davis Health said. \u201cThen mosquitoes bite the birds. Then they bite other animals, including humans, and that\u2019s how it\u2019s transmitted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Blumberg said it\u2019s rarely transmitted person-to-person. He said about 80% of the time, when someone is infected, they don\u2019t show symptoms and their body heals itself.<\/p>\n
Remaining cases will exhibit flu-like symptoms like a fever, muscle aches, vomiting or even a rash. However, in certain situations, it can be very serious \u2014 specifically for people older than 55 or those who are immunocompromised.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason that we get concerned about it is that in 1 out of about 150 people who get West Nile virus, it can cause neurologic disease,\u201d Dr. Blumberg said. \u201cThis can include meningitis and can also include encephalitis, actual more involvement of the brain and it can even result in paralysis.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no vaccine for this seasonal virus, which is generally spread in the summer and into the early fall. Therefore, experts said the best prevention is avoiding mosquito bites altogether.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing is making sure [residents] are not having stagnant water around their home,\u201d Robles said. \u201cDumping out stagnant water is going to go a long way to ensure you\u2019re not breeding mosquitoes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Blumberg also weighed in.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing a mosquito repellent is the mainstay of prevention,\u201d Dr. Blumberg said. \u201cThe most effective one is the repellents that include DEET.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, there were 124 human cases of West Nile virus in California \u2014 11 people died.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CDC estimates that for every case that is reported, there\u2019s 30 to 70 cases that go unreported,\u201d Robles said.<\/p>\n
Experts said mosquitoes carrying the virus are most active during dawn and dusk, so moving forward into the summer, it\u2019s important to be aware and prepared.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting this information is a reminder to all of us that the season has started for West Nile virus, the danger is out there. And so it\u2019s important for people to take protective measures.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sacramento\u2019s mosquito surveillance program started collecting samples earlier this week and from now until October, they will get additional testing results twice a week.<\/p>\n
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