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Jun 6, 2008 10:30 am US/Pacific

Foreclosures Increasing West Nile Dangers In SoCal

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Foreclosures are increasing West Nile virus dangers because of stagnant swimming pools behind abandoned homes.

The foul pools are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which can pass West Nile to humans and horses. The spike in mosquitoes comes earlier than the usual summertime appearance of the pest.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District got 288 service requests last month, nearly double the 145 in May 2007.

Agency spokeswoman Truc Dever said "all of the evidence is pointing to a very active West Nile season."

The tiny Gambusia affinis, a tiny fish that devours mosquito larvae, are put in stagnant pools to help eliminate the threat.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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