Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department says mosquitoes collected at Lake Los Carneros in Goleta on April 2 tested positive for West Nile virus.
The department said Tuesday that the discovery marks the earliest detection of West Nile activity in the county and the first at Lake Los Carneros since 2005.
Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to people, who may develop symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. A very small percentage may develop a serious illness.
The department says, however, that most people who become infected do not develop any symptoms.
Health officials urge people to avoid outdoor activity in the dusk-to-dawn period when mosquitoes are most active, and to use repellant and wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts outdoors.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
