Signs of Encephalitis-Carrying Mosquitoes Found in County

Evidence of mosquitoes that carry two potentially fatal viruses has been found by county Vector Control District officials, assistant district director Fred Beams said Friday.

Beams said that at the moment, “there is no reason for alarm,” but he advised that standing water, in which mosquitoes breed, be cleared from all containers such as old tires, tin cans and wheelbarrows.

Beams said evidence of St. Louis encephalitis, which affects humans, and Western equine encephalitis, which affects horses, mules and similar animals, was found during testing of 4,000 wild birds during the past several months.

“Blood of seven of the birds tested positive for the St. Louis strain and one for the equine,” he said, adding that locations of the captured birds were in Fullerton and three neighborhoods of Irvine.