West Nile Virus Detected In Martinez, San Ramon, Bethel Island

New signs of West Nile virus have turned up this week in Contra Costa County, the Mosquito and Vector Control District said.

Groups of infected mosquitoes were trapped in Martinez and Bethel Island, while an American crow was found dead in San Ramon and three sentinel chickens tested positive for antibodies in the Holland Tract, the district said.

An East County man died from West Nile virus on July 16, marking the first death from the disease reported in Contra Costa County since 2006.

“It is very important for Contra Costa County residents to dump out any containers holding standing water on their property, use an insect repellent if they are outdoors in the evening or early morning, and report mosquito issues to the district, because it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transmit West Nile virus to a person,” Steve Schutz, the district’s scientific program director, said in a press release.

Contra Costa County residents can report dead birds at (877) 968-2473 or online. County residents can request mosquito service for residential property by calling (925) 685-9301 or online.