Fogging to Suppress West Nile Virus Mosquitoes Scheduled in San Jose

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF.  - The Santa Clara County Vector Control District (SCCVCD) confirmed on June 30 that adult mosquitoes collected from the Moorpark Avenue / Winchester Boulevard area of San Jose tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).  The detection of mosquitoes infected with WNV has prompted the scheduling of mosquito fogging in the surrounding area, in an effort to prevent human cases of WNV.  Weather permitting, the ground fogging is scheduled for  Tuesday, July 13, at 11 PM, and will last several hours.
"As part of the District's ongoing efforts of surveillance and control of mosquitoes, we will be conducting ground fogging to suppress the biting adult mosquitoes," said Acting District Manager Russ Parman. "It is important this holiday weekend for residents to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes while outdoors.  We have every indication that West Nile Virus is very active at this time."
The fogging area is bordered by Pruneridge/Hedding on the north, Saratoga Avenue on the west, Highway 880 on the east, and Payne Avenue on the south.  Information packets will be distributed in the fogging area  next week to notify residents about the fogging campaign.
A community informational open house meeting has been scheduled for Friday, July 9 at the Asian Americans for Community Involvement Community Center, room 210, 2400 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Residents located in the fogging area are encouraged to attend the open house.  Residents can visit the District's website at www.sccvector.org to view a map of the fogging zone, as well as sign up for e-mail notification of any WNV activity in the County.  Residents may also call the District's WNV recorded hotline, at 800-314-2427 for up-to-date information.
Transmitted by mosquito bites, WNV can cause mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and body ache, and, in severe cases, significant neurological symptoms or even death.  People over 50 and those with high blood pressure are at higher risk for severe illness. In 2009, California reported 129 WNV infections, with 112 symptomatic cases and 4 human fatalities. While no human cases of WNV have been confirmed in Santa Clara County this year, fogging to suppress WNV-infected mosquitoes is needed to reduce the imminent risk of transmission of the virus to humans.
Precautions that can be taken against mosquito bites are:
At home:
·        DRAIN or DUMP standing water weekly since this is where mosquitoes lay eggs.  Check items such as flowerpots and planter bases, toys, cans, leaky water faucets and sprinklers, rain gutters, buckets, pools, ponds, and old tires.
·        Make sure your DOORS and windows have tight-fitting screens.
Outdoors:
·        Limit activities during DUSK & DAWN to prevent mosquito bites.  Those are the times when the mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active.
If you need to go outside at dusk or dawn, or when in an area where mosquitoes are active:
·        Apply insect repellent containing D.E.E.T., Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (p-menthane diol), following label instructions.
·        DRESS in long sleeve shirts and long pants, preferably of light colors.
Dead birds and squirrels may indicate the presence of West Nile Virus.  The Vector Control District asks Santa Clara County residents to call if they find 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 died because of an injury.
Residents are encouraged to report dead birds and squirrels to the State of California WNV hotline at 877-WNV-BIRD or at www.westnile.ca.gov.
For assistance on mosquito control, residents can contact the SCCVCD office by calling (408) 918-4770 / (800) 675-1155.

Una receta saludable
Pastel de carne con verduras
(12 porciones)
Ingredientes
Carne
1 cucharada de aceite de olivo
1 lb de arrachera (beef flank steak)
o cualquier carne o pollo, cortada
1/2 cebolla grande, finamente picada
1 diente de ajo, finamente picado
6 tomates (jitomates) cherry o Roma, sin
semillas y picados
1 chile poblano grande, asado, sin semillas
y cortado en tiras
1 chile jalapeño o campana (Scotch
bonnet), finamente picado
1 lata (4.5 oz) de chiles verdes, picados y
escurridos
1 frasco (4.5 oz) de hongos Green Giant(r),
rebanados y escurridos
1 cucharadita de sal
1/4 de cucharadita de pimienta negra molida
Cubierta
2 tazas de mezcla Bisquick(r) Original
1 y 1/2 tazas de agua
2 huevos
1/4 de cucharadita de sal, opcional
1/4 de cucharadita de sal de ajo, opcional
1/4 de cucharadita de pimienta negra
molida, opcional
preparación
1 Precalienta el horno a 350°F. En una sartén, calienta el aceite a fuego medio alto. Añade la carne; cocínala hasta que esté dorada por todos lados. Añade la cebolla, el ajo, los tomates, los chiles, los hongos, la sal y la pimienta. Cocina a fuego medio alto durante 3 minutos, revolviendo ocasionalmente.
2 Coloca los ingredientes en un platón de vidrio para hornear sin engrasar de 13 x 9 pulgadas. En un tazón, incorpora todos los ingredientes de la cubierta. Vacíala sobre la mezcla de la carne en el platón para hornear. 3 Hornea sin tapar por 45 minutos o hasta que tenga un color dorado oscuro. Sirve caliente.

El autor de esta receta es Leo Valenzuela, de Snowflake, Arizona, obtuvo el Primer Premio del concurso “La Receta de Mi Cocina” de QueRicaVida.com. Valenzuela de 52 años, sobresalió entre cientos de participantes que enviaron sus recetas por Internet desde octubre del 2009 hasta enero del 2010.