“We’re not a big fan of the late rains in the season. Because we have had these recent rains and the warmer weather to follow we’re going to anticipate a very busy year this year.”

That’s Gary Goodman with the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District.

He says they’re worried the rains will leave a lot of standing water around town creating more mosquito breeding grounds. The danger is: more mosquitoes mean more potential West Nile virus cases...since the insects can spread the disease.

And Goodman says homeless people are particularly at a higher risk of getting bitten.  

 

“…because unfortunately they don’t have homes that they can go into where they can close the doors to help protect themselves from mosquitoes at night.”

 

This week, mosquito control workers handed out repellent to homeless people at the Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen…just north of Downtown Sacramento.