Important Notices

August 07, 2007

DFI Requests that Licensees Help Stop the Spread of West Nile Virus

TO: The CEOs of all DFI Licensees and Others in the Financial Services Industry

FROM: Michael A. Kelley, Commissioner of Financial Institutions

Pursuant to Gov. Schwarzenegger's recent declaration of a state of emergency in counties hit hardest by West Nile Virus, DFI calls upon its licensees and others in the financial services industry whose responsibilities include managing vacant homes to ensure that pools and other containers that can hold water are drained and maintained empty to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. Neglected pools and ponds, often associated with foreclosed and abandoned homes, can be a major source of disease-carrying mosquitoes.

The number of people infected this year with West Nile Virus is three times higher than the same time last year, This year there have been 4 deaths in California due to West Nile Virus (2 in Kern County, 1 in San Joaquin County and 1 in Colusa County).