Pat Swan
I was not surprised to read in the Daily Pilot on Saturday ("West
Nile virus found in Newport-Mesa") that the virus was found in crows
in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. I am surprised that the residents of
these cities were not notified sooner after two dead crows tested
positive for the virus on July 16 and July 19. Why the delay from the
Orange County Vector Control to Newport Beach and Costa Mesa? Where
is the testing being done, and why is there a time delay? The time of
identifying West Nile virus and notifying the public did not happen
for 22 days, and that is not acceptable.
On July 23, I observed the disgusting condition of the storm drain
at Westcliff and Dover drives. The area near the mouth of the drain
was full of standing, stagnant green sludge, and a crow was drinking
from that mess. The flow from the drain into the culvert was narrowed
by the placement of sandbags. When I observed a crow drinking from
that drain, I called the city of Newport Beach General Services
Department and spoke to someone who said the storm drains were under
the jurisdiction of Orange County. I also mentioned the condition at
this location. I asked about the placement of the sandbags being used
to slow the motion of water to the culvert, and the Newport Beach
storm drain representative indicated the county was checking the flow
of the drain.
I requested that he call county vector control and report my
observations to remedy this situation. He unenthusiastically said
their calls to the county were seldom returned. So with those words
ringing in my ears, I called the Orange County Vector Control
District on July 23 and spoke to a gentleman who said he would speak
to his supervisor. On Monday, July 26 at 9:56 a.m., I received a call
from a representative from vector control indicating that he would
investigate. That afternoon, he reported that mosquito larva was
found at that location, and the area was treated. He indicated he
would notify the special services crew.
We are asked by the Orange County Vector Control District to
eliminate any standing water on our property, yet this very drain was
sandbagged by the county to monitor the flow of water and thus has
created a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This drain and probably
others along the culvert are disasters waiting to happen because many
residents live along Dover and Westcliff drives.
The Mariners School, Mariners Library and adjacent park are prime
targets for mosquito infestation because of the proximity of the
