Cities to be fogged for West Nile virus
Treatment will take place in Redwood City, western Atherton
ATHERTON — Parts of Atherton and Redwood City will be fogged starting early Saturday morning after mosquitoes found in Atherton tested positive Thursday for West Nile virus.
It’s the second time this month the virus has been detected in Atherton.
The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District announced it will conduct truckmounted mosquito fogging from midnight to 5 a.m. Saturday in a primarily residential area of western Atherton and in Redwood City’s Oakwood neighborhood.
The fogging treatment will take place within the approximate boundaries of Woodside Road on the west, Selby Lane on the south, Atherton Avenue on the east and the railroad tracks on the north.
The district has been collecting and testing mosquitoes since finding seven dead crows infected with the virus in Atherton and Redwood City between July 6 and July 20. The birds were discovered in western Atherton and in the Eagle Hill-Mount Carmel area of Redwood City.
“We’re very concerned about the risk of human West Nile virus infection in this area,” district Assistant Manager Brian Weber said in a press release.
“Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent or staying indoors around dusk and dawn.”
Mosquitoes will be collected again after the treatment is finished. If samples are found to still be carrying the virus, additional fogging may be needed, according to the district.
Replication of the virus in mosquitoes occurs more quickly during hot weather, which is “why there tends to be more in the South Bay than the north,” according to district spokeswoman Megan Caldwell.
The native Culex pipiens mosquito is primarily responsible for the spread of West Nile virus in the Bay Area.
The virus has been detected several times since June in San Jose and Contra Costa County.
Although the risk of human infection remains low, the district advises county residents to report fresh carcasses of birds or tree squirrels to the California West Nile Virus Hotline at www.westnile.ca.gov or by phone at 877-968-2473.