San Joaquin County – including Escalon and surrounding areas – are not out of the woods yet this year when it comes to West Nile Virus.

Spraying operations over the past few days have included both ground spraying and aerial spraying in and around Escalon, according to officials from the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Weekend ground spraying was completed in north rural Escalon, covering an area north to Little Johns Creek near Farmington, south to East Gawne Road, east to Mobley Road and west to Stowe Road. The spraying was for adult mosquito control.

Earlier in the week, aerial spraying for mosquito control was conducted in a portion of east Escalon near the San Joaquin-Stanislaus County line. That spraying effort went north to Lone Tree Road, south to the Stanislaus River at the county line, east to Victory Avenue at the county line and west to Steinegul Road.

Officials said residents are still being asked to report any dead birds to the West Nile Virus hotline at 877-968-BIRD or online at westnile.ca.gov.

Additional precautions are also urged, including removing standing water from your property so as not to attract mosquitoes, applying insect repellent when going outdoors, limiting activities at dusk, and wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

Neighboring Stanislaus County has reported two deaths this year due to the West Nile Virus and additional human cases have been reported in both San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.