West Nile Virus is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the United States. West Nile Virus is NOT going to magically pass over San Onofre. If you're planning on surfing, or being at, San Onofre near dawn or dust, your risk is much higher than at midday.
There is no time of day or night that is guaranteed to be safe. You should apply insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus AT ALL TIMES while at, or near, San Onofre. Apply it to all skin not covered by clothing. It can also be sprayed onto clothing for extra protection. Long sleeves and pants are strongly recommended. You are not in any way "safe" from mosquitoes when you are out in the water. The Great White Sharks at San Onofre don't scare away mosquitoes.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, people infected with WNV can develop a severe illness. Symptoms include: high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Some people infected develop milder symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or skin rash. Some will not have symptoms. West Nile Virus can be a life-altering and even fatal disease.
It is best to dump out water that has been sitting around in items such as buckets, tires, plant saucers, bird baths, pet water bowls and children’s pools. Mosquitoes only need a half inch of standing water to lay eggs. The eggs can hatch in as soon as two days!
Camp Pendleton officials are "taking measures to protect base occupants from WNV" by treating only large bodies of standing water, and they will do so on a 28-day cycle through October. If you take much comfort in this, you are not paying attention. Standing water by showers, bathrooms, drinking fountains, drainage pipes, ditches, etc., will not be treated. Mosquito eggs hatch in only two days, so that leaves about 26 days of virtually no protection, even around large bodies of water on the base.
I'm cautious not to tempt fate by saying "It can't get any worse a San Onofre," but you've got to wonder. And don't think you can hide from the mosquitoes. Most of then will be too small to see, only a few million will be as big as the San Onofre Mosquito (pictured).
