By Mary O’KEEFE

There is a subtle investigation going on across Los Angeles County. Many may have walked by the investigation tools without noticing, but they are there. Every week investigators come out to the neighborhoods, collect data and follow procedures to keep residents safe.

The investigators are from the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD), and what they are looking for are sick or dead birds and mosquitoes that are carrying diseases like West Nile Virus (WNV).

On June 7 there was a dead bird in La Crescenta that was infected with WNV.

“There have been no positive mosquito samples collected from this specific area to date,” said Anais Medina Diaz, public information officer, GLACVCD. “The dead bird was collected near the corner of Pine Cone Road and Willowhaven Drive in the area of La Crescenta-Montrose.”

Just because a bird is found infected with WNV it does not necessarily mean the origin of the virus is in the area because birds migrate, so they can easily have been infected in another area. If a mosquito is found to be a carrier of WNV then it is more likely the virus originated in the area.

“Although we have not collected positive mosquitoes in a certain area, residents should take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing repellent,” Medina Diaz said. “The Culex mosquito, which can transmit WNV, is most active at dusk and dawn because of the [warm] temperatures. This is when [many] people go on walks.”

She added it is important for people to be proactive and wear insect repellent or insect repellent clothing to prevent being bitten. Summer-to-fall is the most active time for mosquitoes, and to be bitten by them. Medina Diaz added that it is the hotter weather when mosquitoes thrive.

“If there are positive mosquitoes in the area we will post signs,” she said.

The signs warn of the WNV being discovered.

The GLACVCD has confirmed 28 additional mosquito samples testing positive for WNV, bringing the total number of positive samples within the District’s service area to 63.

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility and residents must take an active role in reducing the threat of mosquitoes and mosquito-transmitted diseases in their neighborhoods. This can be done by taking some simple actions including eliminating standing water; ensuring swimming pools, spas and ponds are properly maintained; changing water weekly in pet dishes, birdbaths and other small containers; requesting mosquitofish from the local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds; wearing Environmental Protection Agency recommended insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present; and reporting neglected (green) swimming pools to the vector control district, according to GLACVCD.

WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S. There are no vaccines for people to prevent or medications to treat WNV. About one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For more information, contact GLACVCD at (562) 944-9656 or go online to www.GLAmosquito.org.