Media credit to Jerica Fagan.

In September two mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus were found in a standing well in Porterville. Only, the people of Porterville were not informed until the first week of December. For three months the citizens of our sleepy town were kept in the dark about a very dangerous disease. It seems that the people who were supposed to protect us actually left Portervillians in harm’s way for three months.

The assumed reason for this non-disclosed vital information is that the weather seemed to be cold enough that the mosquito population would decrease, and in time, no longer be a threat.

However, this assumption is very wrong. Who knows why City Hall or the mayor was not informed, but what I know is this overstep of the local government could have cost Porterville innocent lives.

The local finding indicates that two of twenty thousand mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile. This may not seem like a large number but consider this: a mosquito can reach breeding age in 14 days. Each mature mosquito can produce at least three hundred eggs. Do the math. With the passing of three months, the mosquito population could have increased to five billion. Two out of twenty thousand infected means that at least four hundred thousand infected mosquitoes can be produced; each with the capability of infecting more than one person. Though this situation is hypothetical, the danger and probability of it is real. The danger is obvious, which makes the betrayal and secrecy of the local agencies even more severe.

Most likely the local officials did not want to startle the people of Porterville, and I am positive that their reasons are sufficient enough for themselves. But, for the time being, do not depend of the government to be at the beck-and-call for Portervillians. Seeing as how, again, citizens were wronged, I recommend that you (Portervillians) take this situation into your own hands.

So, seeing as how the population of dangerous mosquitoes is still high, there are a few things that Portervillians can do to reduce their risk of contracting the virus.

First, dispose of any and all standing water around your house. This means that buckets need to be emptied, dog dishes continuously washed and gutters cleaned out often. Secondly, it is the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) greatest recommendation that all citizens wear mosquito repellent containing DEET. Thirdly, try to cover up arms and legs at dawn and dusk, this reducing the surface area that mosquitoes can bite. Fourthly, because the government still has done nothing to reduce the standing water in wells and abandoned canals, try to avoid areas with large amount of standing water.