West Nile Virus Concerns In San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jul. 13, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- One particular neighborhood in San Jose is on alert, concerned about West Nile virus. A cluster of dead birds were found in that neighborhood. It has prompted vector control to search the Cambrian area on foot and from the air. They are looking for mosquito breeding grounds. standing water, green swimming pools, anything.

More than 4,000 homes in the area are receving a postcard today and tomorrow, warning people about the threat of West Nile virus. Five dead birds were found within one block.

Sandy Lane in San Jose is ground zero for the latest West Nile scare. On Wednesday, Pita Elder found one dead bird. Hours later there were two more.

Pita Elder, Sandy Lane resident: "We were concerned nobody wanted to touch the birds so I put some signs there -- danger, don't touch it."

Pita and other neighbors immediately alerted vector control.

Barbara Maquire, Sandy Lane resident: "They told me it was okay to glove up, put the birds in a bag and double seal it."

Victor Romano, Vector Control District: "We have found a large number of birds testing positive for West Nile virus within a very short distance of each other leading us to deem this an area of concern."

Inspectors descended on the Cambrian Park area today, literally acting as mosquito source detectives. Some of what they found included live mosquito larvae moving in the middle of a cup.

Paul Reyes, Vector Control Inspector: "We found a few right here in this curb water. We're going to do a treatment to kill the mosquito larvae to make it safe."

Vector control expects today's aerial survey will pinpoint even more potential breeding grounds. A flyover last month in other neighborhoods found 90 questionable pools. Almost all of them have since been cleaned up.

So far this year, 27 birds have tested positive in the county for West Nile virus.

Last year, Santa Clara County had five human cases, one horse, 224 dead birds and 16 groups of infected mosquitoes. No infected mosquitoes have been discovered yet this year, but everyone is learning to live with the very real threat of the virus.

On Sandy Lane and elsewhere, mosquito repellent with DEET is part of life outdoors.

Vector control is urging everyone to help eliminate sources of standing water and after being deemed a hot spot, Pita Elder is grateful the county is taking aggressive action.

Pita Elder: "It's good. It's good news. Very good. I'm so happy."

The aerial photos taken today will be reviewed on Tuesday and analyzed.

For more information on West Nile virus, including frequently asked questions, click here.

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