Tribune/Debra Reid - Blood drawn from "sentinel" chickens is tested for the Western Equine Encephalitis virus transmitted by mosquitoes. The virus is harmless to the county's indicator hens in Spanish Springs, Lemmon Valley, Rosewood Lakes, Washoe Valley and Damonte Ranch.
At tonight's Spanish Springs Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) meeting at 7 p.m., residents will hear a presentation from the Vector-Borne Diseases program as a summer precaution.
Scott Monsen, coordinator of the Vector-Borne Diseases department, said staff will inform the board how to keep from getting those pesky bites that could turn deadly.
"We're getting the word out, with warmer temperatures and the mosquito population on the rise, for people to take precautions to avoid vector-borne transmissions," he said.
Mosquitoes mainly are nocturnal or crepusclar — dawn or dusk — biters. Among most mosquito species, the females usually bite and suck blood from other animals and transmit infection from one host to another.
They are carriers of the West Nile virus, of which there have been no reported cases or evidence of in Washoe County, Monsen said.
In Spanish Springs, they do seem to appear most frequently at Lazy 5 Regional Park, he said.
To minimize their presence and prevent bites, the program staff fogs for adult mosquitoes with a pyrethrin adulticide, a natural botanical chrysanthemum extract, early in the morning, according to the Washoe County Web site.
Mosquito larvae also grow in backyard ponds or swimming pools. Vector-Borne Diseases staff use various juvenile growth hormones, soil bacteria and other products to control mosquito growth in moist places.
Horse owners will also find tonight's presentation of interest.
"We're also urging residents to vaccinate and boost their horses," he said.
Horse vaccinations can be obtained through local veterinarians, he said. One boost costs about $15.
"We'll just be available for questions from residents that we can help them with," Monsen said.
The program also addresses rabies, Lyme disease and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, caused by contact with virus particles from rodent droppings and urine, Monsen said.
Tonight's CAB meeting takes place at the Lazy 5 Regional Park at 7 p.m.
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