UPDATE: Vector Control Officials Delayed Plans to Fumigate Santa Ana Neighborhoods

By: Chelsea Ybanez

UPDATE: Vector control officials delayed plans to fumigate four Santa Ana neighborhoods Tuesday, citing unfavorable weather conditions. 

Trucks armed with aerosol sprayers meant to knock down mosquito populations infected by the West Nile virus were left parked after a summer storm in Baja California led to humid conditions.

Vector control officials will begin fumigating certain Santa Ana neighborhoods Tuesday to combat the worst outbreak of the West Nile Virus in Orange County history.

“The proportion of mosquitoes infected with West Nile views is at the highest level ever detected” said Ron Chapman, director of California Department of Public Health More than 80 percent of the mosquitoes tested by the Orange County Vector Control District tested positive for the virus, about 60 percent of those are in Santa Ana.

In the past years, positive levels were about 10 to 20 percent. The neighborhoods affected are from Euclid Street to Tustin Avenue and 5th Street to McFadden Avenue, Harbor Boulevard to Raitt Street and Edinger to Warner Avenues, Fairview to Bristol Streets and Willits Street to south of Edinger Avenue, and west of railroad tracks along Grand to Tustin Avenues and 17th to First Streets.

Vector control trucks equipped with foggers will begin spraying from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday through Friday Residents in these areas are advised to stay indoors 30 minutes after fumigation, close doors and windows, cover out door fish ponds, along with pet food and water bowls.