1555 Berger Dr., #300 San Jose, CA 95112 www.sccvector.org Contact: Noor Tietze, Ph.D. – 408-210-5773 Russ Parman – 408-593-6176 Heather Forshey - 408-593-6175 News Release June 19, 2009 Fogging to Suppress West Nile Virus Mosquitoes Scheduled in Sunnyvale Santa Clara County, CALIF. - The Santa Clara County Vector Control District (“the District”) confirmed on June 11 that adult mosquitoes collected from the 94089 zip code area of Sunnyvale tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The detection of infected mosquitoes, followed the discovery of a West Nile Virus infected bird about a mile away on May 26, and has prompted the scheduling of mosquito fogging in the surrounding area to prevent human cases of WNV. Weather permitting, the ground fogging is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24 th , at 11 PM, and will last several hours. “As part of the District’s ongoing efforts of surveillance and control of mosquitoes, we will be conducting ground fogging to suppress the biting adult mosquitoes” said District Manager Heather Forshey. The fogging area is bordered by Highway 237 on the north, Fair Oaks Avenue on the west, Great America Parkway on the east, and E. Arques Avenue on the south. Information packets will be distributed in the fogging area on Friday, June 19 th to notify residents about the fogging application. A community informational open house meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 23 rd at Lakewood Park in the multi-purpose room, 750 Lakechime Drive, Sunnyvale from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Residents from the fogging area are invited to attend the open house. Transmitted by mosquito bites, WNV causes mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body ache and, in severe cases, significant neurological symptoms or even death. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk. During 2008, California reported 445 human infections with 15 mortalities. While no human cases of WNV have been confirmed in Santa Clara County, fogging to suppress WNV infected mosquitoes in the area will reduce the risk for human transmission of the virus. Residents can visit the District’s website at www.sccvector.org to view a map of the fogging zone, as well as sign up for e-mail notification of any WNV activity in the County. Residents may also call the District’s WNV recorded hotline at 800-314-2427 for up-to-date information. -more- Vector Control District Department of Environmental Health