Vector Press Release Archive

West Nile Virus Update: Number of Suspected Cases Falling

For the second straight week, the number of San Diego County residents testing positive for West Nile virus seemed to be leveling off.

West Nile Virus Update: No New Human Deaths; Bird Numbers Still Rising

The number of San Diego County residents testing positive for West Nile virus leveled off this week. 

West Nile Virus Update: 30 Cases, Five Deaths

The number of people in San Diego County who have tested positive for West Nile virus — confirmed and probable cases — this year has increased to 30 including five deaths, County officials said Wednesday.

West Nile Virus Deaths Increase to Four

State testing has corroborated local findings that two more San Diego County residents have died from West Nile virus, bringing the total number of county residents killed by the virus this year to four.

West Nile Virus Update: Six More County Residents Test Positive

The state has confirmed that six more San Diego County residents have tested positive for West Nile virus, bringing this year’s total in the county to 17, including two previously reported deaths.

Second Death Due to West Nile Virus Confirmed 

Five more San Diego County residents have been confirmed to have been infected with West Nile virus, bringing the total number of people who have contracted the mosquito-driven disease this year to 11.

A New Mosquito in San Diego?

The Asian tiger mosquito has been found here for the first time since 2001, and the County's Vector Control Program is trying to determine if the pest is here to stay. If you experience an indoor mosquito infestation, call the Vector Control Hotline at (858) 694-2888.

Prevent, Protect, Report

Beat West Nile Virus. Get the facts and join the fight. For more information visit sdfightthebite.com.

West Nile Virus Update: State Confirms New Cases

Two more San Diego County residents have been confirmed as positive for West Nile virus, bringing the total number of people confirmed as contracting the mosquito-driven disease this year to five. That figure includes one fatality previously reported as a suspected case, a 79-year-old San Diego woman who died Sept. 8.

New Invader: Asian Tiger Mosquito Found in County

Another daytime-biting, invasive mosquito thought to have been killed off here more than a decade ago has been discovered in San Diego County.

Two Probable Human West Nile Virus Cases Reported

The death of a 79-year-old San Diego woman on Sept. 8 and the recent hospitalization of an 80-year-old Santee woman are under investigation as probable West Nile virus cases, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today. The 80-year-old woman is currently recovering.

First 2015 Human West Nile Virus Case Reported in County

A 73-year-old Del Mar man has been confirmed as the first locally acquired human case of West Nile virus this year, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

County Conducts Larvicide Drop as West Nile Virus Season Heats Up

San Diego County’s environmental health department will conduct its sixth aerial drop of larvicide of the year on wetlands around the county Wednesday to help keep mosquito populations down and West Nile virus at bay.

Harvest Mouse Tests Positive for Hantavirus 

A wild harvest mouse caught in routine monitoring has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus, San Diego County environmental health officials said today.

It's Rained Cats and Dogs; Don't Let it Grow Mosquitoes

Seeing summer rain in San Diego County is more than a shock — it’s also a good time to remind people to protect themselves against West Nile virus by making sure to mosquito-proof or dump out standing water around their homes.

Squirrel On Palomar Mountain Tests Positive for Plague

A squirrel trapped in routine surveillance on Palomar Mountain has tested positive for plague, the first detection of the disease in San Diego County in 2015.

Number of Birds Infected with West Nile Virus Tops 2014

Fifty dead birds infected with West Nile virus have been collected in San Diego County midway through 2015 — more than the 41 collected in all of 2014 — County Department of Environmental Health officials said this week.

More West Nile Virus Infected Mosquitoes Found

San Diego County vector control inspectors have collected three new batches of mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus, in another sign that this year could be a tough one regarding the potentially fatal disease.

Numbers of Dead Birds Testing Positive for West Nile Virus Rising

The number of dead birds testing positive for West Nile virus in San Diego County has spiked, prompting County environmental health officials to remind people to protect themselves from mosquitoes that can transmit the disease to humans.

Fifth Bird This Year Positive for West Nile Virus

A dead American crow found in Lemon Grove has tested positive for West Nile virus, the fifth dead bird that has tested positive for the disease this year, San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEH) officials said Tuesday.

04/24/2015

Should You Report that Dead Bird You've Found?

OK, you’ve found a dead bird — and you know that birds can carry the potentially deadly West Nile virus.

04/17/2015

Two More Dead Birds Test Positive for West Nile Virus

Two more dead birds have tested positive for West Nile virus, San Diego County environmental health officials said Friday.

04/06/2015

Dead Hawk Marks First West Nile Virus Appearance of 2015

A dead hawk found in Spring Valley has tested positive for West Nile virus, making it the first appearance of the potentially deadly disease in San Diego County in 2015.

03/05/2015

Invasive Mosquitoes Now Found in North County

For the second time in a week, County environmental health officials have found evidence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, an aggressive, day-feeding invasive mosquito that has the potential to carry serious diseases.

02/25/2015

First 2015 Detection of New Invasive Mosquito

County of San Diego environmental health officials have confirmed the discovery of another Aedes aegypti mosquito, a day-feeding invader that can carry serious diseases and was found here for the first time last year.

01/29/2015

Two Mice Test Positive for Hantavirus

County environmental health officials are reminding people to be careful whenever they find signs of rodents living in homes, sheds and garages after two western harvest mice tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus.

Officials Urge West Nile Virus Vigilance

San Diego County environmental health officials have found four more dead birds that tested positive for West Nile virus — and are reminding people they should continue to protect themselves from mosquitoes in a year when even winter isn’t slowing down the disease.

SUSPECTED WEST NILE VIRUS DEATH REPORTED IN SAN DIEGO

A 71-year-old man from the San Carlos neighborhood of San Diego is believed to have died from West Nile virus, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

TWO MORE INVASIVE MOSQUITOES FOUND, PUBLIC URGED TO PREVENT BREEDING GROUNDS

County vector control officials are setting traps and again urging people to empty standing water inside and outside their homes to keep mosquitoes from breeding after finding two more invasive mosquitoes this week.

NEW INVASIVE MOSQUITO FOUND IN COUNTY

County environmental health officials are asking the public for help after the discovery of a new invasive mosquito in San Diego County that feeds in daylight hours and can transmit several diseases.

STATE CONFIRMS LA MESA MAN DIED FROM WEST NILE VIRUS

The cause of the recent death of a 78-year-old La Mesa man was confirmed as West Nile virus (WNV), the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced today.

DEER MOUSE IN FALLBROOK TESTS POSITIVE FOR HANTAVIRUS

A North American deer mouse trapped in routine monitoring in a rural part of Fallbrook has tested positive for hantavirus, and County officials are reminding people to be careful if they ever have to clean up mice or rodent nests.

COUNTY URGES PUBLIC TO REMEMBER IT'S STILL WEST NILE VIRUS SEASON           

The calendar may say that fall has arrived, but warm weather means San Diego County residents still need to remember to protect themselves from mosquitoes and the potentially deadly West Nile virus.

SQUIRRELS TEST POSITIVE FOR PLAGUE

County officials are reminding people to protect themselves when they hike and camp after two squirrels trapped in routine monitoring in the Palomar Mountain area tested positive for plague.

SAN DIEGO RESIDENT WITH WEST NILE VIRUS HOSPITALIZED

A La Mesa man was recently hospitalized with West Nile virus and an El Cajon woman, who was treated as an outpatient, is listed as probably having the virus, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reported today.

HAWK TESTS POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS
Two weeks after a Santee man became the first person in San Diego County in two years to be diagnosed with West Nile virus, County officials said Thursday that a dead hawk has tested positive for the disease.

MOUSE TESTS POSITIVE FOR HANTAVIRUS
County officials are reminding people to be extra careful whenever they are cleaning mice and rodent nests after a mouse trapped in North County's Pala Mesa area tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus disease.

07/24/2014

TWO SQUIRRELS TEST POSITIVE FOR PLAGUE
Two squirrels trapped in routine monitoring at an empty outdoor school on Palomar Mountain have tested positive for plague, prompting San Diego County officials to remind people to take simple steps to protect themselves when camping and hiking.

07/21/2014

FIRST LOCAL HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN 2014 REPORTED
A 43-year-old Santee man has the first confirmed local case of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2014, the County Health and Human Services Agency reported today. This is the first local human case since 2012.

07/08/2014

CAT TESTS POSITIVE FOR TULAREMIA
A pet cat from a home in San Marcos has tested positive for tularemia — “rabbit fever” — a potentially dangerous bacterial disease that people can contract by being bitten by infected ticks or from touching or being bitten by infected animals.

05/22/2014

COUNTY OFFERS STEPS TO KEEP PESTS AT BAY IN FIRE AREAS
County environmental health officials urged people living in or around fire-damaged neighborhoods Thursday to take some simple precautions to help keep disease-carrying pests from potentially multiplying or getting into homes in those areas.

04/10/2014

COUNTY URGES PUBLIC TO PROTECT AGAINST TICKS AFTER TULAREMIA FIND
People hiking or working in brushy areas should protect themselves from ticks, County officials said this week, after a tick trapped in routine monitoring in Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve tested positive for tularemia.

01/10/2014

TWO MICE TEST POSITIVE FOR HANTAVIRUS
County environmental health officials reminded people Friday to be careful whenever they find rodents after two mice caught recently in routine trapping tested positive for the potentially-deadly hantavirus.

11/20/2013

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM RODENTS, HANTAVIRUS
The discovery of a harvest mouse that tested positive for hantavirus has prompted San Diego County vector control officials to remind people to be careful around rodents and to protect their homes from infestations.

11/08/2013

DEAD BIRDS SHOW WEST NILE VIRUS SEASON NOT OVER
Two more dead birds have tested positive for West Nile virus, prompting County officials to remind people to protect themselves from mosquitoes that can carry the potentially-deadly disease even as fall seemed to be bringing cooler temperatures.

09/17/2013

CAMPERS, HIKERS: KEEP PLAGUE AWAY, STEER CLEAR OF SQUIRRELS
Campers and hikers are being urged to take simple steps to protect themselves after three ground squirrels trapped in routine monitoring near Palomar Mountain tested positive for plague.

09/10/2013

PROTECT, PREVENT, REPORT: DEAD CROW PROMPTS WEST NILE VIRUS REMINDER
A dead crow found in Lakeside has tested positive for West Nile virus and San Diego County officials are reminding people to protect themselves from mosquitoes that can transmit the disease.

07/25/2013

COUNTY FINDS TWO MORE CROWS KILLED BY WEST NILE VIRUS
Two weeks after finding the first sign of West Nile virus this season — a dead infected crow — two more dead infected birds have been discovered.

07/11/2013

FIRST LOCAL WEST NILE VIRUS SIGN OF 2013
A dead American crow found near Lakeside has tested positive for West Nile virus, making it the first local sign this year of the sometimes-fatal disease.

06/12/2013

THREE SQUIRRELS TEST POSITIVE FOR PLAGUE
Three squirrels with plague have been discovered near Palomar Mountain and in the Cleveland National Forest east of Alpine