From MedicalXpress
December 4, 2020

Anopheles malaria mosquitoes in Africa and Latin America are evolving in response to human activity, studies in both continents have found.

Anopheles gambiae, the most significant malaria vector in Africa, is developing increasing resistance to pyrethroid insecticides, a study published in Scientific Reports this month shows. Synthetic pyrethroids are the most commonly used insecticide for controlling malaria mosquitoes worldwide.

The team of researchers from Kenya, Ghana and the US say the indiscriminate use of pyrethroid insecticides in agriculture and public health programs could be responsible for the moderate and high-intensity resistance.

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From the NIH
November 23, 2020

In 2015, hundreds of children were born with brain deformities resulting from a global outbreak of Zika virus infections. Recently, National Institutes of Health researchers used a variety of advanced drug screening techniques to test out more than 10,000 compounds in search of a cure. To their surprise, they found that the widely used antibiotic methacycline was effective at preventing brain infections and reducing neurological problems associated with the virus in mice. In addition, they found that drugs originally designed to combat Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation may also help fight infections.

“Around the world, the Zika outbreak produced devastating, long-term neurological problems for many children and their families. Although the infections are down, the threat remains,” said Avindra Nath, M.D., senior investigator at the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and a senior author of the study published in PNAS(link is external). “We hope these promising results are a good first step to preparing the world for combating the next potential outbreak.”

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From Pasadena Now
November 23, 2020

he current surge in COVID-19 cases is renewing public anxiety about the virus, but experts say they want to put people’s minds at ease about one common concern: Mosquitos do not transmit COVID-19.

Since mosquitos are capable of transmitting other viruses, such as West Nile virus, Zika, dengue fever, yellow fever, and others, many concerned San Gabriel Valley residents have been posing the question, according to San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District spokesman Levy Sun.

Fortunately, all available research shows the annoying insects cannot transmit the virus between people they bite, he said.

“With the current surge in COVID-19 cases, also getting a renewed interest from the public regarding whether or not mosquitoes can transmit COVID-19. And so far, the evidence has been pointing to ‘no,’” Sun said.

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From KGET
November 19, 2020

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Health officials say they have diagnosed a fourth case of West Nile virus in Kern County.

California health officials announced the latest data Thursday showing 172 human cases of West Nile across the state. Twenty two counties in the state have reported human cases and seven people have died. There were no deaths from West Nile reported in Kern County.

Officials say more than 7,000 cases of West Nile and 300 deaths have been reported since 2003. And residents are urged to remove or drain any standing water where mosquitos that potentially carry the disease can breed.

West Nile is a disease spread by mosquitoes that most often spreads to people during the summer and early fall when the mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active.

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From The Horse
November 18, 2020

On Nov. 13, officials at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed a horse in Sacramento County with West Nile virus (WNV). The affected horse, an undervaccinated yearling Thoroughbred colt, began showing clinical signs on Nov. 3. Signs consisted of ataxia (loss of control of bodily movements) and hind-limb neurologic signs. The colt is recovering.

According to CDFA, this is California’s 19th confirmed equine case of WNV in 2020. Other counties with confirmed cases include: Amador (2), Butte (1), Glenn (1), Kinds (1), Merced (1), Modoc (1), Nevada (1), Riverside (2), San Bernardino (1), San Joaquin (4), and Stanislaus (3).

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From VOA News
November 16, 2020

The high-pitched whine of a mosquito is annoying, but scientists have developed an app that uses that sound to detect dangerous mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes kill hundreds of thousands of people each year by spreading microbes that cause diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever. But researcher Haripriya Vaidehi Narayanan says anyone with a cellphone can help tackle these diseases by using the Abuzz app to identify mosquitoes. 

“If they see a mosquito around us, they just open the phone, open up the app, point their phone towards the mosquito and hit the record button,” said Narayanan, who started working on the project as a graduate student at Stanford University. She’s now in the Department of Immunology at the University of California Los Angeles. 

“So then, when the mosquito flaps its wings and starts flying around, it makes that noise, that annoying buzzing noise … that noise is what gets recorded by the Abuzz app,” she added. 

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From the Laguna Beach Independent
November 12, 2020

Laguna Beach residents are reporting an uptick in ravenous ankle-biting mosquitos following recent rainstorms, the Orange County Vector Control District shared this week.

It’s very possible the bites are attributable to a newcomer to Orange County—the Aedes mosquito. Laguna Woods and Laguna Hills residents had issues this summer with this species but OC Vector Control crews haven’t trapped one in Laguna Beach yet, agency spokesperson Heather Hyland said.

“Our district has not been able to collect and confirm an invasive Aedes sample, however, the calls we have received from Laguna Beach confirm that residents are reporting day time aggressive biting on lower legs is indicative of these mosquitoes,” she said.

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From Bio Med Central
November 10th, 2020

Background

Wolbachia bacteria are widely distributed throughout terrestrial arthropod species. These bacteria can manipulate reproduction and influence the vector competence of their hosts. Recently, Wolbachia have been integrated into vector control programmes for mosquito management. A number of supergroups and strains exist for Wolbachia, and they have yet to be characterized for many mosquito species. In this study, we examined Wolbachia prevalence and their phylogenetic relationship to other Wolbachia, using mosquitoes collected in Merced County in the Central Valley of California.

Methods

Adult mosquitoes were collected from 85 sites in Merced County, California in 2017 and 2018. Traditional and quantitative PCR were used to investigate the presence or absence and the density of Wolbachia, using Wolbachia-specific 16S rRNA and Wolbachia-surface protein (wsp) genes. The supergroup of Wolbachia was determined, and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) by sequencing five housekeeping genes (coxA, gatB, ftsZ, hcpA and fbpA) was also used to determine Wolbachia supergroup as well as strain.

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From the Coronado Eagle Journal
November 9th, 2020

Recently, residents have noticed an increase in the number of mosquitoes in Coronado. There is a new invasive species of mosquito called the Aedes, that is spreading across California. The Aedes breeds in small areas of water and even some plants. The San Diego County Vector Control handles the inspection and treatment of mosquitoes in cities around the County. The City is working with County officials to treat storm drains, public parks and facilities to address mosquito concerns. Residents can do their part to “combat the bite” by eliminating standing water that can accumulate in pots, rain barrels, trashcans and outdoor toys and furniture. Vector control services are funded through a benefit assessment and are available to every property owner. Residents can contact the County directly to request property inspections and treatment, file complaints or ask questions. Residents and businesses can reach the County Vector Control Program at 858-694-2888 or at vector@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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From the Daily Nexus
November 8, 2020

These mosquitoes, commonly known as southern house mosquitoes, were discovered in traps for a different invasive species of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti discovered in early October. These traps were set up in a house in Santa Barbara near the intersection of North La Cumbre Road and Foothill Road. 

Brian J. Cabrera, general manager of the Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County, said that the mosquitoes likely picked up West Nile virus from infected birds, which they tend to feed on. According to Cabrera, carrier mosquitoes have the potential to pass the virus on to humans — but it isn’t a reason for panic. 

“It’s not an imminent threat, but we should remain vigilant,” Cabrera said. “The disease caused, or the illnesses caused by West Nile virus, only affects a small percentage of the people who actually acquire the virus from a mosquito bite.”

Cabrera said that 80% of people infected don’t feel symptoms at all. Those that do get sick, he said, will experience fever, headaches, rashes and nausea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1% of West Nile virus cases are fatal, with elderly and otherwise immunocompromised individuals particularly at risk. 

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From Bakersfield Now
November 6th, 2020

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., (KBAK/KBFX) — According to the State of California’s West Nile site, Kern County has had three confirmed human cases of West Nile so far this year.

West Nile virus is a disease that is spread by mosquitoes and most often spreads to people during the summer and early fall when the mosquitoes that carry WNV are most active.

While many mosquito-borne illnesses such as WNV cause only mild symptoms in most people, the infection can cause severe illness and even death in rare cases, according to public health.

Most people who contract WNV have symptoms that include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, nausea, vomiting and sometimes a skin rash.

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From Medical Xpress
November 4, 2020

Where Aedes mosquitoes fly, Zika virus may not be far behind. Although the explosive 2015-2016 Zika epidemics in the Americas are behind us, Zika may re-emerge, and “in many countries, Zika may be spreading in silence,” says Sujan Shresta, Ph.D., a professor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI). “We need to develop effective vaccines.”

In a new Science Advances study, Shresta and her colleagues at LJI report that the immune system’s T cells have the power to prevent Zika infection in mice. This finding suggests that effective Zika vaccines need to activate T cells to work alongside antibodies.

“If we combine T cells and antibodies, we have even stronger protection and longer-term protection,” says Annie Elong Ngono, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at LJI and first author of the new study.

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From AlKhaleejToday
November 3, 2020

Using a strategy known as “population modification,” which involves using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene propulsion system to introduce genes that prevent parasite transmission into mosquito chromosomes, University of California researchers have made a great leap forward in the use of genetic technologies for the Control of the transmission of made malaria parasites.

Postdoctoral fellow Adriana Adolfi of the University of California at Irvine, working with colleagues from UCI, UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, pursued the group’s pioneering efforts to develop CRISPR-based gene drive systems to make mosquito vectors resistant to the transmission of malaria parasites Genetic drive in female mosquito offspring.

“This work alleviates a major problem with the early gene propulsion systems, namely the buildup of propulsion-resistant mosquitoes that can still transmit malaria parasites,” said UCI vector biologist Anthony James, Donald Bren Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, who co -Primary Investigator was involved in the study.

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From Winters Express
October 29, 2020

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District discourages the practice of exchanging potted plants as the invasive mosquito population in Winters remains widespread across town.

In mid-September an adult female Aedes aegypti mosquito was found in a trap placed near East and Main streets. The invasive container-breeding mosquito is an aggressive species that prefers to bite people during the day and has the potential to transmit serious diseases including Zika, dengue and chikungunya. The discovery in Winters was the first of its kind detected in Yolo County, ever. It has since been found in other communities including the neighboring City of Davis.

Winters continues to host the largest infestation in Yolo County.

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From KRCR
October 28, 2020

An invasive mosquito that can spread several diseases has been found in Oroville.

The non-native species, known as the Yellow Fever Mosquito, can transmit viruses such as Zika, Dengue, and Yellow Fever as the name suggests.

Mosquitos that are native to the area don’t spread those diseases, county officials say.

There is now a rush to eradicate the invasive species and contain it to the area of Oroville Dam Boulevard and Feather River Boulevard.

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From Noozhawk
October 28, 2020

A sample of mosquitoes collected from a mosquito trap in Santa Barbara has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), according to the Mosquito & Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County.

The mosquitoes were trapped as part of ongoing surveillance for the recently discovered invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that were discovered earlier this month.

“This is not the first time West Nile virus has been found in Santa Barbara County, but it has been three years since it was last detected,” said Brian Cabrera, district general manager.

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From KEYT
October 27, 2020

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Mosquitos that were caught in Santa Barbara tested positive for West Nile Virus on Tuesday.

The Mosquito & Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County caught a sample of mosquitoes from a mosquito trap and tested them after the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were discovered earlier this month.

The sample of mosquitoes that were caught tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

“This is not the first time West Nile virus has been found in Santa Barbara County,” says District General Manager Brian Cabrera, “but it has been three years since it was last detected.”

Officials say humans can contract the West Nile Virus after getting bitten by an infected mosquito.

Officials warn that most people who contract the virus don’t know they are infected and don’t develop any symptoms.

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From Spectrum News 1
October 26, 2020

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Every morning Michael Saba heads out to feed his fish — all 75,000 of them.

Known as “The King Fish,” Saba is a marine biologist with the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, where he rules over an army of tiny silvery creatures.

“I think they’re the most beautiful organisms on the planet,” he said.

His fish are not all that different than the kind you’d buy at a pet store — except for one thing.

“This is one of that family of fishes that just happens to eat mosquito larvae in abundance when it’s present,” he said.

Called mosquitofish, they’re nature’s best weapon against pesky blood suckers. Once they reach adulthood, the fish are delivered to backyard fountains and ponds all over Orange County, where they’ll gobble up little mosquito larvae.

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From KCRA 3
October 23, 2020

BLAINE, Wash. —

They’re here, and they’re apparently making themselves at home.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture on Friday confirmed they located the first Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S.

The nest was inside a hole in a tree located on “private property near an area cleared for a residential home,” WSDA said in a news release.

WSDA said its team saw dozens of the so-called “murder hornets” exiting and entering the tree.

The department spent weeks trapping the giant hornets and have been actively searching for them since the first hornets were caught earlier this year. The hornets were first detected in Washington in December the first one was trapped in July.

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From CBS Sacramento
October 23, 2020

ARDEN-ARCADE (CBS13) — A pandemic, a historic fire season and now disease-carrying mosquitoes that can spread the Zika virus. Mosquitos are becoming more than just a nuisance in the Arden-Arcade area.

In the last two weeks, Martie Nolan has discovered at least 14 bites that have left a mark.

“I started getting bites all over my legs just by going outside to take the trash out,” said Nolan. “I still get a little scared cause you never know.”

Nolan’s family is one of the dozens in her Arden-Arcade neighborhood that Sacramento-Yolo mosquito and vector control has visited to warn about an invasive mosquito in the area that is capable of carrying Zika and other dangerous diseases.

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From CBS Sacramento
October 23, 2020

ARDEN-ARCADE (CBS13) — A pandemic, a historic fire season and now disease-carrying mosquitoes that can spread the Zika virus. Mosquitos are becoming more than just a nuisance in the Arden-Arcade area.

In the last two weeks, Martie Nolan has discovered at least 14 bites that have left a mark.

“I started getting bites all over my legs just by going outside to take the trash out,” said Nolan. “I still get a little scared cause you never know.”

Nolan’s family is one of the dozens in her Arden-Arcade neighborhood that Sacramento-Yolo mosquito and vector control has visited to warn about an invasive mosquito in the area that is capable of carrying Zika and other dangerous diseases.

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From the Moorpark, CA Patch
October 22, 2020

From ABC 10
October 22, 2020

From the Sacramento Bee
October 22, 2020

The mosquito that can carry the Zika virus has been spotted this week in yet another area of Sacramento County, this time in Isleton, according to a report Thursday from the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District.

The invasive Aedes aegypti bite during the day and lay eggs just above the water line in containers that hold relatively little water such as pet dishes, bird baths and the saucers beneath flower pots.

Locally, vector district officials also have reported detecting them in Arden Arcade and Winters.

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From the International Business Times
October 21, 2020

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are carriers of dengue and Zika viruses, are known to be active biters during the daytime, but a team of researchers has found that artificial lights can “abnormally” increase their biting behavior even at night.

Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes transmit various mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika fever. The species mostly bite in the early morning and in the afternoon hours when there is light, but what happens when they are exposed to artificial lights at night?

To find out, a team of researchers conducted an experiment wherein the study’s first author, Samuel S. C. Rund of the University of Notre Dame’s Department of Biological Sciences, let mosquitoes bite him under certain conditions including during daytime, at night, and at nighttime while exposed to artificial light. They then measured the mosquitoes’ blood-feeding behavior.

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From the Kern Valley Sun
October 14, 2020

In an Oct. 6 news release, Kern County Public Health Services said it has received confirmation of a human case of West Nile Virus (WNV), the first reported case in the county for 2020.

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne disease that normally spreads during the summer and early fall months. While it is not fatal to most people, it can pose a serious risk in certain individuals, leading to death in the rarest of cases. Approximately 20% of infected persons will experience symptoms such as headaches, fevers, joint pain, body aches, nausea and possibly skin rashes.

Less than 1% of people experience severe symptoms in which the virus affects the brain and nervous system. These symptoms can include confusion, neck stiffness and high fever. The Department of Public Health Services urges individuals experiencing symptoms related to the virus, especially after being bitten by a mosquito, to contact a medical care professional for further information.

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From KXXV
October 12, 2020

According to the CDC, more than 30 states are reporting West Nile virus infections in people, birds or mosquitoes. Early symptoms of West Nile are similar to any virus or the common cold. These days, that means it’s hard to differentiate from COVID-19.

In Los Angeles, it’s a big job to mitigate mosquitoes. The Greater LA County Vector Control District serves nearly 6 million people in 35 cities. So far this year, more than 230 mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile.

“Every year, our mosquito season seems to get longer and longer and that goes into it being warmer and warmer,” said Anais Medina Diaz, the public information officer for the LA County Vector Control District. “Now we’re seeing mosquito season go from March to the end of October, sometimes into the beginning of November.”

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From the Antelope Valley Press
October 12, 2020

From NBC Los Angeles
October 9, 2020

Twenty-six more mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus this week in Los Angeles County, bringing to 264 the number of positive samples so far this year, vector control officials reported Friday.

The mosquito samples all were collected from areas previously identified as positive for WNV, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. The highest totals of mosquitoes that have tested positive this year were reported in: Encino and North Hollywood with 14 each, Valley Village with 13, Van Nuys and Pico Rivera with 12 each and Studio City and Toluca Lake with 10 each.

West Nile virus is endemic in Los Angeles County, and warm temperatures can increase virus activity and mosquito populations, according to the GLACVC. As of Oct. 2, 93 WNV human cases have been reported in California this year, 27 of which were identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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From the Merced Sun-Star
October 8, 2020

West Nile Virus has led to the deaths of two individuals over age 50, a Merced County Mosquito Abatement District news release reported.

Each person had underlying health conditions prior to their death.

Although the fatalities were reported on Thursday, both occurred during September, the release said.

As of Oct. 2, a total of 93 known West Nile Virus cases have been reported in California this year. Four deaths have been traced to the virus, meaning half of fatalities statewide are Merced County residents.

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From YourCentralValley.com
October 8, 2020

VISALIA, California (KSEE) — October is usually when the number of mosquitoes declines – but in some parts of Tulare County the number is going up.

While the number of diseased mosquitoes is down from last year, mosquito-transmitted diseases like West Nile virus are still being found in humans.

Inside the lab at the Delta Vector Control District, one water sample contains an abundant amount of larvae. Petri dishes also line the counters, filled with hundreds of mosquitoes caught in traps.

General Manager Dr. Mustapha Debboun said the Central Valley’s prolonged heat has made ideal mosquito breeding conditions.

Recently, there’s been an uptick in neighborhoods in northwest Visalia. The district conducted targeted treatment in some of them Thursday morning. However, the number of mosquitoes found carrying viruses is down from 2019. So far, only 139 mosquitoes have been found with West Nile virus, while 39 have been found with St. Louis Encephalitis virus.

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From the Sacramento Bee
October 7, 2020

Even as the Sacramento Valley cools down, the yellow fever mosquito is being discovered in traps in new areas. Some were found this week near Cresta Park in the Arden Arcade area, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District announced Wednesday.

This aggressive day-biting pest, more formally known as Aedis aegypti, can carry not only yellow fever, but also Zika virus, dengue and chikungunya. While mosquitoes breed more quickly during the heat of summer, these new reports show local residents shouldn’t let down their guard this autumn.

“Your assistance is critical! If you are being bitten throughout the day or notice more mosquitoes in your yard, please give the district a call to request a free inspection,” said Gary Goodman, the district manager, in a news release.

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From the Half Moon Bay Review
October 7, 2020

From the Antelope Valley Press
October 7, 2020

From Edhat Santa Barbara
October 3, 2020

Source: Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County

The Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County has confirmed the presence of the non-native Aedes aegypti mosquito in Santa Barbara County. Photos of a suspect mosquito caught at a home in the Hope neighborhood in Santa Barbara were submitted to the District’s website by an alert resident.  The suspect mosquito specimens were collected from the residence located near the intersection of N. La Cumbre Rd. and Foothill Rd. and tentatively identified as Aedes aegypti at the District laboratory. An additional specimen was collected from a trap set up at the residence where the mosquitoes were found and it was positively identified as Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. Mosquito district staff currently are setting up additional traps, conducting property inspections, and passing out informational brochures in the surrounding neighborhood. 

Aedes aegypti is native to Africa but has spread throughout many regions of the world. This mosquito was first detected in California in 2013 and since then has spread throughout southern California and the Central Valley. Aedes aegypti can transmit viruses such as Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya and the virus that causes yellow fever but, fortunately, these diseases are not locally transmitted in California. However, this mosquito can be extremely bothersome, biting both during the day and at night and can be found both indoors and outdoors. Residents in areas where the mosquito has become well established call them “ankle biters” due to their habit of biting around the ankles. Aedes aegypti prefer feeding on humans and stay close to human dwellings where they will lay their eggs in practically anything that contains stagnant water including buckets, tires, birdbaths, containers of all kinds, and plates under potted plants. They can even develop in water held in plants, such as bromeliads. Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae can complete their development in the amount of water that would fill a bottle cap. Residents are urged to remove all sources of stagnant water both inside and outside of the home and scrub the sides of the containers because the eggs can survive without water for many months.

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From CBS Los Angeles
October 2, 2020

SANTA ANA (CBSLA) – Amid an explosion of non-native “ankle-biter” Aedes mosquitos across the Southland this summer and fall, Orange County is trying out a new treatment to combat the insects.

The O.C. Mosquito and Vector Control District Thursday was using an A1 Super Duty larvicide sprayer to spray out a mist with an organic bacteria at Fairhaven Cemetery in Santa Ana.

“What we are doing tonight is a wide area larvicide spraying,” Heather Hyland with OCMVC told CBSLA Thursday.

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From FOX 26 News
October 1, 2020

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency announced five human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Tulare County.

Two cases are confirmed to have contracted the virus and three cases are probable.

Public health officials urge residents to take precautions against mosquito bites, as mosquito samples positive for West Nile Virus have been detected in multiple locations within the county.

In addition, samples indicate that St. Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLEV) may also be present, posing a risk to the public.

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From the Ventura County Star
October 1, 2020

After emerging for the first time in Ventura County less than a month ago, potentially dangerous Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have now been found in east and west Ventura, Fillmore, Westlake Village, Piru, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, officials said Thursday.

Unconfirmed reports of the mosquito have also come from other communities, including Camarillo and Santa Paula.

“We expect to get more reports from all areas of the county,” said Cary Svoboda, program lead for Ventura County Environmental Health Division’s vector control program. “They’re just very good at moving around and getting their foot in the door.”

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From The Almanac
September 30, 2020

San Mateo County’s Mosquito and Vector Control District has detected West Nile virus in a dead bird for the first time this year.

The bird — an American crow — was collected in South San Francisco earlier this week, the vector control district said Wednesday.

It is the first case of the virus found in San Mateo County since 2018. Though reports of dead birds indicate presence of the virus, the risk to humans remains low.

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From FOX 40
September 30, 2020

DAVIS, Calif. (KTXL) — The mosquito responsible for the spread of the Zika virus has broken out of a containment zone in Winters and has been found in a neighborhood in Davis.

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District aggressively went after the Aedes aegypti mosquito in 2019, an invasive insect that’s known to carry the Zika virus and several other exotic diseases.

The discovery of the mosquito in Sacramento County was the first time the insect had appeared this far north.

In 2016, a Zika outbreak in the United States caused bitten pregnant women to have an increased risk of their babies being born with deformities and permanent neurological damage.

In mid-August, a major infestation in the Yolo County town of Winters drew lots of attention from mosquito technicians.

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From The Press
September 30, 2020

From NBC Los Angeles
September 30, 2020

Millions of Southern Californians have been under attack–itching and scratching from bites all over their bodies–by what appears to be a record explosion of tiny “ankle-biter” mosquitoes, known as the Aedes breed.

“I have bites on my ears, under my chin, on my breasts, in between my fingers, not just on my ankles,” says LA resident Rosemary Hochschild. “I feel like I’m going to go mad.”

But efforts to control these mosquitoes by LA County’s Vector Control agency have been hampered by the pandemic.

When the pandemic started, Vector Control had to stop performing service calls at residents’ homes. During those calls, Vector Control inspectors will come to your home, tell you where mosquitoes are breeding, and often treat those areas with “larvicide.”

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From the Sacramento Bee
September 30, 2020

The dog days of summer have waned in the Sacramento region, but the dreaded yellow-fever mosquito apparently is still finding places to breed here.

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District reported Tuesday that it had found an adult female aedis aegypti in a new area of Yolo County: a trap at Pioneer Park near El Macero in Davis. On Sept. 15, the same species of mosquito was also found in Winters.

Yellow-fever mosquitoes carry not only the disease for which they are named but also Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya. There are no documented cases of mosquitoes transmitting these three illnesses in California.

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From CBS Los Angeles
September 30, 2020

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Spreading diseases such as malaria, West Nile and Zika, mosquitoes are among the deadliest animals in the world.

To date, California officials have reported a total of 91 West Nile virus cases in people statewide. Of those, L.A. County Public Health said it has identified 27 local cases.

West Nile virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S.

Mosquito season is typically from March to late October or early November, and there are currently no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat the disease in people.

Most people infected with West Nile virus do not feel sick, but one in five people experience a fever and other symptoms, the CDC says.

About one out of 150 infected people develop serious and sometimes deadly reactions to the disease, according to health experts.

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From EurekAlert!
September 28, 2020

In a study published in Autophagy, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) shed new light on how Zika virus hijacks our own cellular machinery to break down a protein that is essential for neurological development and cellular communication, getting it to “eat itself”. By triggering this process known as autophagy, Zika virus is able to degrade an important protein, a process that may contribute to the development of neurological or brain deficiencies and congenital birth defects in the newborns of infected pregnant women. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of how this process takes place, researchers are coming closer to developing therapeutic interventions to prevent congenital birth defects such as microcephaly caused by Zika virus infection in pregnant mothers.

“The Zika virus is able to disrupt our cellular mechanisms to create a conducive environment to replicate,” explains Yanjin Zhang, associate professor in Veterinary Medicine at UMD. “It upregulates some proteins and downregulates others that have antiviral roles, manipulating and interfering with cells to its own advantage. In this case, it looks like the KPNA2 protein may have some antiviral effects, so the virus uses the natural cellular self-destruction process called autophagy, or self-eating, to get rid of KPNA2.”

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From the Winters Express
September 24, 2020

A Yolo County resident became ill with West Nile Virus last month and is now recovering, the county reported Saturday.

This is the first human case of the mosquito-borne virus documented in the county this year. Statewide, at least 16 counties have reported human West Nile cases, affecting around 60 people. Since 2003, there have been 7,000 confirmed human cases and more than 300 deaths, according to the state.

Yolo County officials did not provide additional details about the local case, including city of residence, but West Nile activity has been found in mosquito samples and dead birds throughout the county, including in the city of Davis.

The virus is transmitted to people via the bite of infected mosquitoes, making mosquito control key to preventing spread of the illness.

Dr. Mary Ann Limbos, the county’s deputy public health officer, said Saturday the county resident diagnosed with West Nile “is now recovering,” but said the risk of contracting West Nile Virus in the county at this time of year remains.

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From CBSLA
September 24, 2020

THOUSAND OAKS (CBSLA) — A non-native mosquito capable of carrying dengue and Zika virus has been detected in Thousand Oaks, the second instance it has been found in Ventura County.

Aedes aegypti mosquitos have been detected in Thousand Oaks, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division said in a news release Wednesday. The first detection of the mosquito was on Sept. 9 in Simi Valley, officials said.

Officials described the Aedes aegypti as a small, aggressive day-biting mosquito that has been spreading in many California communities. It is capable of transmitting viruses like dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika, but authorities say those viruses are not currently being transmitted in California.

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From VC Star
September 23, 2020

Ventura County officials have found specimens of an invasive and potentially dangerous species of mosquito in Thousand Oaks several days after the mosquito’s presence in the county was publicly shared.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, also known as yellow fever mosquitoes, were first detected in Simi Valley on Sept. 9, according to the Ventura County Environmental Health Division. The species is identifiable by the white stripes on its back and legs and is able to carry viruses such as Zika, yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya. They are described as small and aggressive day-biting mosquitoes, according to authorities.

Though the species can carry potentially fatal diseases, no known cases of transmission have been recorded in California.

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From KRCR News
September 23, 2020

CHICO, Calif. — For the first time in Butte County the mosquito commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito has been found.

The invasive species was discovered September 17 in northeast Chico in the area of East Avenue and Mariposa Avenue.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito has been detected previously in other areas of California, but never in Butte County. Aedes aegypti have the potential to transmit viruses such as chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika, that are not known to be transmitted by Butte County’s native mosquitoes, and to date, have not been detected in Aedes aegypti in California.

“The District is working to evaluate the extent of the infestation and we plan to do everything we can to eradicate this mosquito and to protect our residents from the potential disease risk of these invasive mosquitoes,” said Matt Ball, District Manager. “Our goal is to control and eliminate this species of mosquito so that it does not become established in our community.”

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From the Ventura County Star
September 21, 2020

A potentially dangerous species of mosquito not found before in Ventura County has emerged in Simi Valley with more people reporting bites every day.

“We are being flooded with calls,” said Ron Ventura, supervisor with the Ventura County Environmental Health Division. “We’re getting a dozen calls a day at least.”

The small black mosquito with white stripes on its back and legs is called Aedes aegypti or yellow fever mosquito. Found in Kern and Los Angeles counties and long suspected of having crossed into Ventura County, the aggressive day-biting insect was found in Simi Valley on Sept. 9 after a resident reported being bitten.

The mosquitoes generate concern because they have the potential to transmit dangerous viruses including Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

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