San Diego County officials are ramping up their battle against mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.
Helicopters began dropping larvae-cide on 39 wetland areas yesterday. County officials hope controlling the region's mosquito population will keep the illness from spreading from bugs to humans. So far, NO human case of West Nile has been contracted in San Diego County. Vector Control spokesman Chris Conlan says that could be more difficult because mosquitoes are increasing spreading the virus through birds.
Conlan: The first two years it was NOT present in really high numbers. Last year we saw a major increase in bird activity.
Conlin says more than 160 birds tested positive for the virus last year, that's up significantly from the year before. The county will spend five and a half to six million dollars fighting mosquitoes this year. Erik Anderson KPBS News.
