2008 Woodie Awards
Evidence of West Nile Virus Found on Campus
Valley professor assists in the discovery of evidence linking West Nile to campus puddles.
Claudia Lozano
Issue date: 10/13/04 Section: News
Dead birds and larvae breeding puddles have been found at Valley College and are, officials report, evidence that the West Nile Virus has struck the campus.
According to Valley's gardening supervisor Jack Epling, the health department's veterinary control unit has picked up dead crows on campus to assess, for statistical purposes, West Nile in our ZIP code. Although the health department will not give campus officials the test results, the virus is in our district, he said.
The puddles were discovered by earth science professor Richard Raskoff
"I have noticed for a long time, on Campus Drive where the faculty parks, a big puddle, so, I went to Vice-President Tom Jacobsmeyer, and said ''Tom I've been noticing some puddles,' and he said 'send me an e-mail,'" Raskoff said, noting that astronomy professor David Falk sent the e-mail.
After waiting two weeks for a response and given West Nile's severe affects, Raskoff felt the matter called for urgent action. He talked to staff gardener Inocente Rodriguez, who handled the puddle immediately.
"As soon as Raskoff told me [about the puddle] I dried it out and told him your problem is taken care of," Rodriguez said. "If I see a puddle I'm supposed to dry it out or pour bleach into it to kill the larvae." Rodriguez said, referring to his orders on how to handle standing water.
Jacobsmeyer said he received an e-mail, and "copied it to facilities manager Tom Lopez," adding that Lopez is responsible for handling such matters.
Lopez said he had received calls regarding dead birds and standing water and informed Los Angeles Valley District Vector Control to no avail.
"I've called Vector Control myself about the dead birds, and we put them in plastic bags before we threw them away," Lopez said.
Due to the high number of calls reporting dead birds, Vector Control advises to dispose of them with gloves or plastic bags in trash cans and get rid of standing water.
Nineteen people have died in California from West Nile and a total of 714 state-wide cases have been reported to the Centers of Disease Control. According to the CDC, the virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Approximately 80 percent of people infected with West Nile exhibit no symptoms. About 20 percent have flu-like ailments including headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, body aches and skin rash. Fewer than 1 percent will develop severe illness that could result in death from the disease.
According to the CDC, the best way to protect yourself from West Nile is to use insect repellant containing DEET on exposed skin.
Report standing water or dead birds on campus to administration or call Tom Lopez at (818) 947-2301. For more information on West Nile Virus go to www.westnile.ca.gov or call 877-968-2473.
According to Valley's gardening supervisor Jack Epling, the health department's veterinary control unit has picked up dead crows on campus to assess, for statistical purposes, West Nile in our ZIP code. Although the health department will not give campus officials the test results, the virus is in our district, he said.
 Media Credit: Jorge Gallegos WEST NILE - Valley College gardener Inocente Rodriguez picks up a dead bird in parking lot C that is pressumed to have died from West Nile Virus. |
The puddles were discovered by earth science professor Richard Raskoff
"I have noticed for a long time, on Campus Drive where the faculty parks, a big puddle, so, I went to Vice-President Tom Jacobsmeyer, and said ''Tom I've been noticing some puddles,' and he said 'send me an e-mail,'" Raskoff said, noting that astronomy professor David Falk sent the e-mail.
After waiting two weeks for a response and given West Nile's severe affects, Raskoff felt the matter called for urgent action. He talked to staff gardener Inocente Rodriguez, who handled the puddle immediately.
"As soon as Raskoff told me [about the puddle] I dried it out and told him your problem is taken care of," Rodriguez said. "If I see a puddle I'm supposed to dry it out or pour bleach into it to kill the larvae." Rodriguez said, referring to his orders on how to handle standing water.
Jacobsmeyer said he received an e-mail, and "copied it to facilities manager Tom Lopez," adding that Lopez is responsible for handling such matters.
Lopez said he had received calls regarding dead birds and standing water and informed Los Angeles Valley District Vector Control to no avail.
"I've called Vector Control myself about the dead birds, and we put them in plastic bags before we threw them away," Lopez said.
Due to the high number of calls reporting dead birds, Vector Control advises to dispose of them with gloves or plastic bags in trash cans and get rid of standing water.
Nineteen people have died in California from West Nile and a total of 714 state-wide cases have been reported to the Centers of Disease Control. According to the CDC, the virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Approximately 80 percent of people infected with West Nile exhibit no symptoms. About 20 percent have flu-like ailments including headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, body aches and skin rash. Fewer than 1 percent will develop severe illness that could result in death from the disease.
According to the CDC, the best way to protect yourself from West Nile is to use insect repellant containing DEET on exposed skin.
Report standing water or dead birds on campus to administration or call Tom Lopez at (818) 947-2301. For more information on West Nile Virus go to www.westnile.ca.gov or call 877-968-2473.
