SANTA CLARA COUNTY — Sprayings aimed at reducing the adult mosquito population are set to be performed throughout the next week after more insects tested positive for West Nile virus in Santa Clara County.
The Santa Clara County Vector Control District announced sprayings around portions of San Jose, Milpitas and unincorporated county areas set for Tuesday, Thursday and Monday.
Tuesday night’s spraying was centered on Quimby Road and Ruby Avenue in San Jose and a part of unincorporated Santa Clara County. The affect areas fall within ZIP codes 95121, 95135 and 95148.
Thursday’s spraying, also in San Jose and unincorporated areas, will focus on Kirk Road and Tawnygate Way within ZIP codes 95124 and 95118.
The district on Tuesday announced the additional measures alongside confirmation that more virus-positive mosquitos were found in portions of San Jose and Milpitas. According to the district, the affected areas fell within ZIP codes 95035 and 95132 and centered around Yellowstone Avenue and Westridge Drive.
Starting around 10 p.m. on each night, the district plans to use truck-mounted equipment to treat a limited area of the cities with Zenivex, an insecticide that targets and kills adult mosquitoes.
Residents do not need to relocate during the operations, the district said, adding that mosquito treatments pose minimal risk when applied by a licensed professional. But those wishing to take extra precautions can remain indoors with windows and doors shut while the operation is underway. Treatments take about four hours.
Around early August, a Santa Clara County resident tested positive for the virus, public health officials said, but recovered after a brief hospitalization. The Vector Control District says it’s normal to see an increase in the virus in the late summer and early fall seasons due to the warm weather, which mosquitos thrive in.
According to the Public Health Department, the virus has a low risk of serious illness for most people under the age of 60 that don’t have certain medical conditions, and most people who contract is experience mild or no symptoms. Those who do experience symptoms could receive fevers, headaches, body aches, and in severe cases, neurological symptoms.