West Nile
This year, that buzzing noise is more than an annoyance

Here are the top 10 reasons why Northern California residents need to drain containers of standing water, clear gutters, stock ponds with mosquito fish and take other efforts to prevent mosquito infestations this year:

10. It's only March, and already 21 dead birds have been found in Sonoma County that are suspected of having been infected with West Nile virus.

9. Last year, the first bird found dead from the virus wasn't discovered until July 26.

8. In other parts of the country, the second year of West Nile infestation is usually worse than the initial outbreak, and the above numbers suggest the same will be true in Sonoma County.

7. The Laguna de Santa Rosa is covered with ludwigia, a dense aquatic plant that carpets the surface of the water and creates a nursery for mosquito larva.

6. While herbicidal spraying of ludwigia will begin this spring, it will take several years before the weed is under control.

5. The 16 people who are working year-round to prevent mosquito infestations can't cover every square inch of the 2,300-square-mile Marin-Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District on their own - they need the public's help.

4. West Nile can wreak havoc on the many non-human species that call Northern California home - especially birds, which are particularly susceptible to the virus.

3. There is no vaccination for humans against West Nile, and there is no cure for people who contract the disease.

2. Wearing a mosquito repellant that contains DEET and covering up at dawn and dusk can help prevent bites, but there will be times when people will be unprepared. By reducing the overall number of mosquitos bred on your property, you lessen the chances that a neighborhood kid who forgot to put on his repellant will contract West Nile.

1. West Nile kills people. Fortunately, not all mosquitos are infected, and of the people who are bitten by a carrier, only 1 in 150 develop a severe illness. Still, why take chances?

Everyone can help prevent West Nile by eliminating potential mosquito breeding grounds. For tips, call the mosquito control district at 285-2200 or go to its Web site at www.msmosquito.com.