MODESTO BEE
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

By KEN CARLSON
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: August 10, 2005, 06:40:22 AM PDT

Poorly maintained or abandoned residential swimming pools are a big problem in efforts to control mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus, officials said.
One notable example is the pool at Tony Daniloo's former Turlock home. Daniloo, the former head of DreamLife Financial, and his wife, Nansi Masihi Daniloo, lived in the $949,000 home before their arrest in December on real estate fraud charges.

Turlock Mosquito Abatement District officials said they have gone to the vacant home in east Turlock five or six times since March, after receiving complaints of mosquitoes breeding in the abandoned pool and spa.

Personnel have treated the pool's green, murky water with pellets and an oil-based pesticide. They expect to treat it again after finding more larvae Tuesday, said Roger Jorge, a district foreman.

The district has the authority to declare a health and safety nuisance and impose fines to compel the owner to maintain the property. So far, it has taken no action against the Daniloo property.

"The neighbors wanted to pitch in and put power to the house to keep the pool pump running," Jorge said.

The Turlock district and the East Side Mosquito Abatement District are the two agencies in Stanislaus battling West Nile virus, which has killed three people in California this year.

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