State of emergency declared in California's counties hard-hit by West Nile Virus
3/8/2007 16:35
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday declared a
state of emergency in four counties hit hardest by West Nile Virus.
The
number of people infected this year with West Nile Virus has been three times
higher than the same time last year, Schwarzenegger said in a statement e-mailed
to Xinhua.
The state of emergency, applied to Kern, Colusa and San Joaquin
counties, was intended to prevent the spread of this mosquito-borne disease,
said the governor.
This year there have been four deaths in California due to
West Nile Virus (two in Kern County, one in San Joaquin County and one in Colusa
County).
"Today I'm taking action to help the counties hit hardest by West
Nile Virus," Schwarzenegger said. "My proclamation makes financial assistance
available to the local vector control districts and directs state agencies to
take proactive measures to protect Californians from further spread of this
deadly virus. I will continue to ensure our local agencies have whatever
resources they need to fight the spread of this disease."
The recent upturn
in foreclosures this year has increased the number of vacant homes this summer
with unattended and untreated pools, which has exacerbated the spread of West
Nile Virus, said the governor.
Since taking office, Governor Schwarzenegger
has invested more than US$15 million to fight the West Nile Virus.
California
has one of the most comprehensive West Nile Virus surveillance and control
systems in the United States.
The state deploys surveillance and detection
technology to track specific areas of West Nile Virus activity and alert local
agencies so they can target their mosquito control activities.
Despite those
efforts to eradicate West Nile Virus, the virus remains a threat, and further
efforts to control the spread of the virus and to reduce and minimize the risk
of infection are needed, said the governor.
Xinhua
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