Borrego Sun - Since 1949

Last year in San Diego County, 44 people tested positive for West Nile virus and six died. 753 people statewide tested positive and 53 people died. Worrying figures when San Diego County’s vector control program reports that it has already collected more batches of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes by the second week of July than it did in all of 2015.

No people, either in the county or in the state, have tested positive for West Nile virus so far in 2016. However, County environmental health officials said the fact that they have already collected 53 batches of mosquitoes with the virus in July — compared to 49 in all of 2015 — should remind people to keep their guard up and protect themselves from mosquitoes and the virus.

Vector control reported this week that, in addition to the mosquito batches, 132 dead birds and a horse — the first in the county reported this year — had also tested positive for the virus. While there is no human vaccine for West Nile virus, there is one for horses. County officials urged horse owners to ask their veterinarians about getting their animals vaccinated.

County officials also urge residents and visitors to follow the County’s “Prevent, Protect, Report” guidelines.