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Santa Clara County officials announced today three dead crows found throughout the county — including one in Los Altos — have tested positive for West Nile virus and are advising residents to take extra precautions against mosquito bites.

The American crows were found dead on May 7 in Monte Sereno, on May 10 in Los Altos and on Thursday at Bollinger Road and Johnson Avenue in San Jose, the county Vector Control District said.

There have been no human cases or West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes found in the county this year, but dead birds act as an early warning system for the virus, the district said.

Residents are urged to report crows, jays, sparrows, finches birds of prey or tree squirrels that have been dead for less than 48 hours and do not appear to have suffered an injury. Residents may call of the state’s West Nile Virus hotline at (877) WNV-BIRD or report an incident online at www.westnile.ca.gov.

Residents are cautioned to take certain precautions against mosquito bites, including wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, applying insect repellant and making sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.

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3 Comments

  1. I have read that neglected swimming pools and other untended bodies of water provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes. What is the best way to treat water which may contain mosquito larvae? For example: containers left outside which filled with rainwater and have now gone stagnant, non working fountains, etc.

  2. I’ve heard that about 1 tsp of cooking oil (I don’t remember for how much water, but it’s a lot) will stop mosquitos from breeding with out contaminating the water.

  3. Yes, yes, let’s hurry and bring back the swamps. Think of all the children missing the thrill of a midnight ague attack, and the acculturating of a row of little graves in the family plot. But, hey, it’s NATURAL birth control!!! so TRY to live with it.

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