KAREN MELLOR: WEST NILE VIRUS

Karen Mellor, from the A. V.  Mosquito & Vector Control District was on Cafe Con Leche on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. She spoke about the West Nile virus in the Antelope Valley. Three chickens from a coop in West Palmdale have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The chicken coop is located near 50th Street West and Avenue N. This brings the total for 2016 to four positive chickens in the Antelope Valley. Karen urged residents to dump and drain standing water on their property to avoid further mosquito problems.  To keep mosquitoes from breeding and to stay safe, she advised us to follow these tips:

Follow the 3 D’s (Drain, Dusk, Dawn. Check your property for any standing water from sprinklers or thunder showers · Turn on fans to keep mosquitoes away · Keep screen doors and windows in good repair and close them. Karen also gave us information about the Zika Virus. It is transmitted primarily by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Here a picture of this last mosquito.