OAKDALE LEADER
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

By M.C. NAYLOR
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 10:40 AM PDT

Although the Stanislaus County East Side Mosquito Abatement District (ESMAD) has not made a decision to use aerial spraying techniques for control of the insect that carries the West Nile Virus infection, the disease has for the first time reached the 'epidemic' stage within the county.

The number of human cases of the disease reached a total of 23 on Monday, with four additional confirmed human cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease announced by the Stanislaus Health Services Agency that day, in addition to four previously announced during the weekend.

On Monday, ESMAD also began widespread mosquito abatement fogging of large areas in Modesto, and this continues through the week, with areas throughout the county being sprayed, including Oakdale. At a combined agency press conference on Friday, Aug. 12, Dr. John Walker, public health officer for the county, termed the degree of the virus outbreak as an "epidemic."

Walker explained that the recent heat wave speeded up the reproduction rate of mosquitoes exponentially, and the number of human cases statistically places the disease in that category.

Health authorities continue to stress that residents should take precautions against mosquito bites. Abatement officials ask that residents remove any standing water from their property, and report potential mosquito breeding pools to them for abatement.

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