Mosquitoes in Henderson park test positive for West Nile virus

Friday, Aug. 13, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

Mosquitoes in a Henderson public park have tested positive for West Nile virus, prompting city officials to urge caution throughout the area.

Out of 156 mosquitoes captured by county public works workers at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex, on Arroyo Grande Boulevard south of Warm Springs Road, 22 were found to be carrying the potentially deadly disease, city officials announced this morning. Residents in nearby neighborhoods and coaches and teams that use the complex have been notified, and signs have been posted in the complex's fields, the city said in a statement.

The mosquitoes are thought to have bred in an area of standing water in a softball field along the southeastern edge of the complex, which abuts a flood control basin. Rising groundwater tables created the boggy area, which is now dense with vegetation.

The city and county have treated the area with mosquito-killing pellets and sprays and plans are under way to drain the area and bulldoze it.

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