West Nile Virus Detected in Clarmeont

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGVMVCD) confirmed its first detection of West Nile Virus this year in Claremont from a mosquito sample collected in the city on August 13, 2024.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no cure for the virus. One in five persons infected with the virus will exhibit symptoms. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash. There is no human vaccine for WNV, and severe cases can lead to paralysis or even death. Preventing mosquito bites is the first line of defense against the virus.

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility, and residents are encouraged to take an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their neighborhoods by taking the following steps:

• Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for over a week.
• Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained.
• Change the water in pet dishes, bird baths and other small containers weekly.
• Wear insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present.
• Report neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district.

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District and the City's Community Improvement Division are available to inspect vacant or neglected properties with excessive stagnant and standing water.