MVCAC > Mosquito and Vector News

2 CHICKENS TEST POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS IN BUTTE COUNTY

From Action News Now
July 23, 2020

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – The West Nile Virus has been identified and is now active in Butte County. Two of the District’s sentinel chickens have tested positive with West Nile virus (WNV), the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District announced Thursday.

One chicken is from the Palermo area and the other chicken is five miles west of Chico. With increasing mosquito populations and the detection of WNV within Butte County, the District said it’s urging residents to take all precautions necessary to drain any and all un-needed standing water, report any suspected mosquito-breeding sites to the District, and protect themselves from mosquito bites.

The District said this is the first positive indicator of WNV in the county for 2020. WNV is active throughout the state of California and activity is rising, according to the District.

“It’s imperative that county residents be aware that WNV is active and to avoid mosquito bites by whatever means necessary. Residents are urged to do their part to prevent mosquitoes from breeding by inspecting and eliminating all standing water from their properties.” WNV has been identified in Butte County every year since its arrival in 2004. Since 2004, 249 residents have been infected with the virus, 9 of which have lost their lives.

Vector Control Puts Los Angeles on ‘Mosquito Watch’

From Los Cerritos News
July 22, 2020

Los Angeles, CA. The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD/District) recently launched its grassroots outreach program, Mosquito Watch. This neighborhood program, facilitated by the District’s Community Liaisons, educates, mobilizes and empowers Angelenos to take action against mosquitoes as populations and virus activity increase.

A new resource website, TipTossTakeAction.org, allows individuals to join Mosquito Watch by taking a pledge to protect their communities. They are then guided through three easy steps to learn about mosquito breeding source reduction and sharing the information with their neighbors.

Mosquito Sample In Placer County Tests Positive For West Nile Virus

From CBS Sacramento
July 22, 2020

ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — Vector control officials say a mosquito sample in Placer County has tested positive for West Nile virus.

The Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District announced the county’s first positive sample on Wednesday. It was taken from a mosquito trap in the western part of the county, near Baseline and Pleasant Grove roads.

Health officials have already confirmed positive West Nile samples in nearly a dozen other California counties this season. Back in late June, Stanislaus County also confirmed two human cases of the virus.

Mosquito complaints surging in Del Mar

From ABC 10 News San Diego
July 21, 2020

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — People living along the coast in north county say they can’t remember the last time mosquitoes were so bad.

Sharon Mauro lives near the San Elijo Lagoon in Solana Beach.

“Oh, we couldn’t leave the house without them attacking us,” said Mauro.

She hired Tony Gallardo of Mosquito Joe to spray her property.

“The last few weeks have been very busy. Basically, from the coastline all the way to Poway, the mosquito problem is pretty significant right now,” said Gallardo.

Gallardo says he sprays roughly 15 homes a day.

“This is kind of a perfect storm in everybody is stuck at home now, they want to be outside. The kids are getting tired of being inside. You get outside the mosquitos are eating everybody up, they’re breeding cause they have more food, strange way to put it,” said Gallardo.

Experimental drug reduces replication of zika virus and prevents microcephaly in mice

From MedicalXpress
July 20, 2020

An international group of researchers have discovered that inhibiting AHR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor)—a protein with roles in regulating immunity, stem cell maintenance and cellular differentiation—enables the immune system to combat replication of zika virus in the organism far more effectively. In experiments performed at the University of São Paulo’s Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICB-USP) in Brazil, the antiviral therapy proved capable of preventing the development of microcephaly and other malformations in mouse fetuses whose mothers were infected while pregnant.

The study was supported by FAPESP. An article describing the results was published on July 20 in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Yellow fever mosquito breeding in San Diego County backyards

From CBS 8
July 20, 2020

SAN DIEGO — Have you noticed an increase in mosquito bites recently, maybe targeting your ankles? A non-native species of mosquito especially adapted to breeding in our backyards is gaining a foothold in San Diego County.

They are ankle biters that swarm during the daylight hours, outside or inside your home. Summertime is peak season for the so-called yellow fever mosquito.

“It’s that kind of going after the feet and the ankles that seems to be one of their more notorious characteristics,” said Chris Conlan, supervising vector ecologist with the County of San Diego.

“The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is a specialized sort of critter in that it really breeds more in small containers. So, you’re not going to see it breeding in the ponds, rivers and streams that we have around the county,” said Conlan.

That means standing water in your backyard is the perfect breeding ground for the yellow fever mosquito.

Mosquitoes in Lake County test positive for West Nile virus

From Lake County Media
July 19, 2020

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A sample of mosquitoes collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile virus, officials said Saturday.

The Lake County Vector Control District said the mosquitoes, Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito), were collected near Middletown on July 14.

“Detecting West Nile virus is typical for July in Lake County,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District.

“Many of us are spending more time at home and in our yards this summer, and during the COVID-19 pandemic it’s easy to forget that West Nile virus is still here,” Scott said. “Thankfully, mosquitoes cannot transmit COVID-19.”

Lake County Vector Control District continues to provide mosquito control services to the community.

Fight the bite: Controlling mosquitoes in Placer County in 2020

From Gold Country Media
July 18, 2020

Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest creatures in the world. Their ability to spread disease causes millions of deaths worldwide every year.

There are 112 genera of mosquitoes in existence, but three genera perform the most acts of pestilence.

Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever are all transmitted to humans by a species within genus Aedes.

A. aegypti (commonly called the yellow fever mosquito) was reported in south Placer County in August 2019 and several Central Valley and Southern California counties. Although they are out at dusk and dawn, daytime biting is a hint to their presence. They can lay eggs in as little water as contained in a bottle cap.

Human malaria is transmitted only by some females within the mosquito genus Anopheles, and they can be found in Placer County.

The most common malaria vector in our county is Anopheles freeborni. This large, over-wintering pest is a vicious biter which enters houses readily. It can be found throughout most of California, especially in rice-growing areas, and is also a daytime biter.

Ground pools, small streams, irrigated lands, freshwater marshes, forest pools and any other place with clean, slow-moving water are considered prime malaria mosquito breeding grounds for egg-laying.

Summer Mosquito Spraying Begins in Parts of Coachella Valley

From MyNewsLA
July 18, 2020

With potentially deadly mosquito-borne viruses continuing to be detected in the Coachella Valley, crews will begin pesticide spraying operations Saturday morning that are expected to continue into the fall.

Spraying will occur on weekend mornings in Palm Desert and La Quinta through Sept. 13, from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., except for one Sunday in August, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

In La Quinta, spraying will be focused on the Cove neighborhood, bounded by Calle Tampico, Avenida Bermudas, Calle Tecate and Avenida Montezuma. In Palm Desert, crews will be deployed to an area bounded by El Paseo, Portola Avenue, Haystack Street and Highway 74.

Kern County working hard to curb mosquito problem

From KGET
July 16, 2020

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — As if people didn’t have enough virus concerns already, the county is now warning homeowners to stay vigilant for mosquitos.

“We have a residential mosquito problem,” said Terry Knight.

Knight, who works with Kern Mosquito and Vector Control, said the county is currently dealing with an infestation of two separate mosquito species.

“The first is the Culex mosquito, which can carry the West Nile Virus,” said Terry Knight. “The other mosquito that we’re dealing with is Aedes Aegypti.”

He said a Culex mosquito carrying the West Nile virus was caught recently near the Arvin area. However, no human cases of the illness having been reported in Kern so far this year. On the other hand, the Aedes Aegypti mosquito is spreading through the golden empire like an out of control wildfire.

Estimation of mosquito-borne and sexual transmission of Zika virus in Australia: Risks to blood transfusion safety

From Physicians Weekly
July 16, 2020

Since 2015, Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have occurred in the Americas and the Pacific involving mosquito-borne and sexual transmission. ZIKV has also emerged as a risk to global blood transfusion safety. Aedes aegypti, a mosquito well established in north and some parts of central and southern Queensland, Australia, transmits ZIKV. Aedes albopictus, another potential ZIKV vector, is a threat to mainland Australia. Since these conditions create the potential for local transmission in Australia and a possible uncertainty in the effectiveness of blood donor risk-mitigation programs, we investigated the possible impact of mosquito-borne and sexual transmission of ZIKV in Australia on local blood transfusion safety.

West Nile found in Yolo County for first time this year

From the Davis Enterprise
July 16, 2020

West Nile virus has been detected in Yolo County for the first time this year.

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District reported Wednesday that a mosquito sample near Zamora tested positive for the disease.

Meanwhile, West Nile virus activity continues to gradually increase throughout north Sacramento County as more mosquito samples and dead birds tested positive this week from areas near Carmichael, Fair Oaks and Arden-Arcade.

“With the warmer temperatures we’ve seen recently, West Nile virus activity is steadily rising,” said district manager Gary Goodman.

“To date, the amount of West Nile virus activity has been lower than other seasons,” Goodman said. “However, we are in the middle of summer and this can quickly change. Therefore, it’s extremely important that residents continue taking proper precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes.”

West Nile virus found in Yolo County mosquito sample for 1st time in 2020; activity rising

From the Sacramento Bee
July 15, 2020

For the first time this season, officials at the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District reported Wednesday that they have found West Nile in a mosquito sample in Yolo County. It was in Zamora.

“With the warmer temperatures we’ve seen recently, West Nile virus activity is steadily rising,” said Gary Goodman, the district manager. “To date, the amount of West Nile virus activity has been lower than other seasons, however … this can quickly change. Therefore, it’s extremely important that residents continue taking proper precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes.”

In Sacramento County, the district has reported finding West Nile virus in 18 dead birds and 12 mosquito samples over a large swath of territory between Interstate 80 and Highway 50 from Sacramento to Folsom as well as in Elk Grove and south Sacramento.

Bugging Out Over This Mosquito-Borne Virus? How To Safeguard Your Home This Summer

From The Telegraph
July 15, 2020

2020 has brought the novel coronavirus, murder hornets, locusts, and a giant “Godzilla” Saharan dust cloud. As if that weren’t enough to contend with, there’s another potential threat that should be on your radar this summer. It’s called Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, and known as the deadliest mosquito-borne illness in the United States.

“This virus first becomes widespread between one particular mosquito species, Culiseta melanura, that transmits the pathogen between birds in wooded swamplands,” says Brittany Campbell, entomologist for the National Pest Management Association. “Then, different mosquito species that feed on humans pick up the pathogen from infected birds and spread it to humans.”

The Yellow Fever Mosquito Found Again In Stockton

From San Joaquin County MVCD
July 13, 2020

STOCKTON, CA. -The San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s (District) mosquito surveillance system has detected the invasive yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) in the Brookside area of Stockton. “With this find, this invasive mosquito has survived the winter and continues to populate, said Aaron Devencenzi, Public Information Officer of the District. “The yellow fever mosquito is very difficult to control, so public call-ins are very important,” said Devencenzi.

Aedes aegypti is a small (about ¼ inch) black and white mosquito that bites aggressively during the day. The public can help prevent the spread of these invasive mosquitoes by calling in daytime biting mosquitoes to the District.

The District will continue surveillance efforts by placing traps used to collect adult mosquitoes and mosquito eggs. Additional efforts may include the District’s staff conducting door to door inspections of the residential area near the recent Aedes aegypti detection.

Case of West Nile Virus Reported In Long Beach

From RLN
July 13, 2020

LONG BEACH -The first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) this mosquito season was reported in Long Beach the week of July 6. The patient, in their 60s, was diagnosed with neuro-invasive illness and is now hospitalized.

This is only the second reported case in California this year, after the first human case of the season was reported in Stanislaus County. No mosquitoes in Long Beach have been found to be positive for WNV thus far this season.

WNV is transmitted through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Signs and symptoms of WNV may include fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and headache. Most people who become infected have no symptoms. However, approximately one in 150 may develop a more serious disease, such as brain inflammation or paralysis. Persons with these symptoms should seek immediate care.

Voles populating Chino Hills

From Champion Newspapers
July 11, 2020

A spike in the vole population in Chino Hills and the region has prompted numerous calls to the city and the West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

A vole is a rodent known as a “meadow mouse” that like to populate urban landscapes with grass and other cover they feed on, according to Janet Hartin, with the UC Cooperative Extension.

They like loose deep garden soil that makes it easier for them to burrow, she said.

“Often, it’s the gardeners that seem to have the most trouble with them,” she said.

Kevin Marin, who has lived in Butterfield since 1991, said he has never seen so many voles, rodents, and rabbits.

‘Murder hornet’ mania: Hundreds of people think they’ve spotted the Asian giant hornet

From USA Today
July 10, 2020

Hundreds of people in Washington State have reported suspected “murder hornet” sightings in the months since the insect was first spotted in the U.S., stirring panic in a nation already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak.

But only five of those reports were bona fide Asian giant hornets, the 2-inch-long invasive species that slaughters honeybees and can be deadly to humans, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

“Unfortunately, while their intentions are good, many people have killed and submitted many insects that are NOT Asian giant hornets,” entomologists Quin Baine and Chris Looney said in mid-June. “Not only are most of these insects not harmful, they play an important role in the environment.”

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus found in 3 Orange County cities

From KTLA
July 10, 2020

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been found in three Orange County cities, the county’s Mosquito and Vector Control District said Thursday.

Chip Yost reports for the KTLA 5 News at 3 on July 10, 2020.

Mosquito Spraying to Begin This Weekend in Parts of Coachella Valley

From NBC Los Angeles
July 8, 2020

With potentially deadly mosquito-borne viruses continuing to be detected in the Coachella Valley, vector control officials are planning to carry out further pesticide spray applications beginning tomorrow.

Targeted mosquito eradication efforts are scheduled Thursday through Saturday from 2 a.m to 6 a.m. in Palm Desert and Indian Wells, near where mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis were previously collected from traps, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

In Palm Desert, crews will concentrate their efforts generally in residential neighborhoods near Highway 74 and Haystack Road. Efforts in La Quinta will take place in residential neighborhoods southwest of Portola Avenue
and Fairway Drive.

Zika May Have Damaged More Infants’ Brains Than Expected

From U.S. News and World Report
July 7, 2020

It’s a virus some might not even remember, but babies born to mothers infected with Zika who appeared normal at birth still experienced neurological or developmental problems, new research suggests.

A hallmark of infection with the mosquito-borne Zika virus in pregnant women is delivering a baby with an abnormally small head — a condition called microcephaly. But as children exposed to Zika in the womb are growing up, researchers are learning that it’s not only the youngsters born with microcephaly that they need to worry about.

Long Beach sees first case of West Nile virus this year

From the Long Beach Post
July 7, 2020

Public health officials are warning people to be vigilant during mosquito season after a patient in his or her 60s was diagnosed with West Nile virus in Long Beach this week, marking one of the first cases in Southern California so far this year.

“While the world is focused on COVID-19 prevention and response, this is an important reminder that we continue to see cases of West Nile Virus most years in Long Beach,” City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis said in a statement. “We cannot let our guard down against mosquito-borne diseases.”

The first cases were initially reported in Northern California this year.

No mosquitoes in Long Beach have been found to be positive for the virus thus far this season.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito and may include symptoms such as fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and headache. Most people who become infected have no symptoms.

New species of mosquito arrives in Kern County

From KGET
July 7, 2020

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern Mosquito and Vector Control on Monday said mosquitoes trapped east of Arvin have tested positive for the West Nile virus.

Additionally, a species of mosquito that is new to Kern has arrived. Called the Aedes aegypti, it’s a tiny, aggressive bug that feeds multiple times, said Terry Knight of Vector Control.

No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Kern so far this year. Knight recommended wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors, and draining any standing water near residences to stop them from breeding.

How British Columbia and Washington state are stopping the spread of Asian giant hornets

From The Conversation
July 7, 2020

Panic-stricken headlines about “murder hornets” are thankfully mostly behind us. The nickname may have staying power, but it is certainly unearned.

First spotted in British Columbia in August 2019, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) poses little threat to humans. In its native range in East Asia, the giant hornet is chiefly a menace to the livelihoods of beekeepers, provoking concern that it could cause similar problems in North America.

County health officials remind residents to take precautions against mosquitoes, West Nile virus

From KGET
July 5, 2020

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — County health officials are asking residents to safeguard their homes against possible breeding sites for mosquitoes and to protect themselves from the risk of acquiring the West Nile virus.

The best way to avoid the West Nile Virus, the county says, is to avoid mosquito bites, and reducing spots where they can breed.

Officials say residents should:

Remove standing or stagnate water from containers. Flowerpots, fountains, birdbaths, pet bowls, and other containers — even gardening tools and toys — can collect water.
Clean and scrub containers that collect water to remove eggs.
Maintain swimming pools in working condition.
If you have a garden pond, stock them with fish that eat mosquito larvae. You vector control district can provide free fish.
Report areas of mosquito infestation to your local vector control district.

‘Yellow fever’ mosquito found in Le Grand in Merced County

From the Merced Sun-Star
July 4, 2020

A mosquito capable of transmitting several human diseases — including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika — was found this week in Le Grand, according to the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District .

The district said the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito has now been found in three areas of Merced County since 2017, according to a news release.

The district is evaluating the extent of the infestation and will aggressively target problem areas to prevent its spread.

Mosquitoes in Indian Wells test positive for West Nile virus

From the Desert Sun
July 3, 2020

Additional mosquitoes trapped in the Coachella Valley tested positive for West Nile virus, this time in Indian Wells, officials said Thursday.

The mosquitoes were collected from traps near Vintage Drive and Portola Avenue, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

Indian Wells is the third Coachella Valley city where West Nile virus has been detected this year. In June, mosquitoes positive for the virus were reported in Palm Desert and Cathedral City.

This year, 21 mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus. The Coachella Valley has no reported human cases of West Nile, which is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito.

“Impacts of COVID-19 on staff resulted in the District suspending services for two weeks so residents across the valley need to help us and protect themselves against mosquito bites,” said Tammy Gordon, a district spokeswoman. “Avoid spending time outdoors at dawn and dusk. If you have to be outdoors, wear long sleeves and apply bug spray.”

Can You Get Covid-19 From Mosquitos?

From Late Night Health
July 2, 2020

MVCAC President Peter Bonkrude joins Mark Alyn on Late Night Health to answer the question: “Can You Get Covid-19 From Mosquitos?”

Mosquito experts say the increased attention on public health is an excellent reminder that there are many ways for residents to protect themselves from mosquito-transmitted diseases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), to date, there is no data to suggest that COVID-19 is spread by mosquitoes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the main way that COVID-19 spreads is from person to person.

While COVID-19 is not transmitted by mosquitoes, they can transmit several other diseases such as West Nile virus. There is no human vaccine for this disease which can cause debilitating cases of meningitis, encephalitis, and even death. Also, newly established invasive Aedes mosquitoes can transmit viruses such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika, all of which are costly to treat and can have long-term health and financial consequences.

Brazil’s Tale Of Two Epidemics: Zika And COVID-19 – OpEd

From EurasiaReview
July 2, 2020

As Brazilian athletes were preparing for the upcoming Summer Olympics, a growing global health crisis shifted the government’s attention from winning gold medals to securing testing kits. On February 16th, the Brazilian government ordered the deployment of 220,000 soldiers to hand out educational material to citizens on how to combat the new virus that was ravaging the country, a strategy that proved effective in mitigating the spread of the disease. The year was 2016, and Zika virus was the disease.

Four years later, Brazil is losing the battle against a more formidable enemy, COVID-19. The country has the world’s second-highest death toll, having surpassed the United Kingdom as deaths reached 44,000. As the situation becomes grimmer by the day, President Jair Bolsonaro has chosen to replace his two previous health ministers with an army general to lead the country to battle, even though he lacks a background in public health or medicine. The president, himself a retired army captain who has fondly romanticized the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985, has downplayed the pandemic, calling it a “little flu.” Thus far, Brazil’s COVID-19 response has been so botched that on May 26, President Donald Trump, long-time Bolsonaro ally, prohibited the entry of foreign Brazilian nationals into the United States due to an increased risk of transmission.

Wash. state begins trapping for Asian giant hornets

From Komonews
July 1, 2020

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — About 600 traps to catch invasive Asian giant hornets are being placed in Whatcom County by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, more than doubling the number already set out by citizens.

The Capital Press reports the state traps are being placed around Blaine, Custer and Bellingham, the only places in the U.S. that the giant hornet has been found.

The traps are being put on the edge of forested areas.

COVID-19 isn’t the only virus spreading this summer; entomologists watching spread of West Nile

From ABC 10 San Diego
July 1, 2020

Heather Hyland, a self-proclaimed bug nerd, has found a love for mosquitos despite the diseases they carry.

“I have loved bugs I would say since I was about 2 years old,” Hyland said.

Initially a public information officer for the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Southern California, she said her bug fascination was because so many people don’t like them. So, as a child, Hyland thought, someone should love them. That love turned into entomology.

“They’re so interesting. They’re these intricate little tiny bugs with the capability to do big things. If you look at how prehistoric a mosquito is, it has six mouth parts. There’s so many different things they can do that are big,” Hyland said.

West Nile Virus in Amador County, California

From EquiManagement
June 29, 2020

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has confirmed one case of West Nile virus (WNV) in Amador County.

The confirmed WNV case was in a 20-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that had onset of clinical signs of June 19 that included ataxia, hind limb ataxia and neurologic signs. The gelding was confirmed on June 26. He was alive and affected at the time of this report.

‘Murder hornets’: race to protect North America’s honeybees from giant invader

From The Guardian
June 25, 2020

It took Moufida and John Holubeshen just a day of tracing alleged sightings and studying map coordinates before the two amateur detectives found their target.

“We did the whole CSI thing,” says Moufida. “Plotting points and drawing lines, searching for where the middle of the circle – the nest – would be.”

The couple, like hundreds of other beekeepers in western Canada and the US, were hunting the Asian giant hornet, an invasive species whose stealthy advance throughout British Columbia and Washington state is causing growing unease.

Scientists and apiarists fear that, if permitted to spread unchecked, the hornets, which feast on honeybee larvae, could have disastrous consequences for tens of thousands of hives.

Zika virus ‘harms baby brain collagen development’

From SciDevNet
June 25, 2020

Zika virus can hamper vital collagen development in the brains of babies whose mothers were infected with the disease while pregnant, new research reveals, as the search for a vaccine continues.

Collagen is crucial to the circulatory system, as it regulates the compression of blood vessels. A large amount of the collagen found in the human brain is located inside vein tissue.

The research findings could explain the deaths of babies with microcephaly, a birth defect that causes a baby to be born with a smaller head and often smaller brains that may not have developed properly.

LA County’s #TipTossTakeAction campaign fights mosquito bites

From the Los Angeles Daily News
June 22, 2020

Los Angeles County officials are generating some buzz for National Mosquito Control Awareness Week to remind residents to protect themselves from the biting insect and the diseases it can transmit.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) reminded Angelenos Monday to take action against the bugs by removing standing water and wearing repellent, which can help prevent itchy bites as well as mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus.

GLACVCD is getting the word out through a #TipTossTakeAction summer campaign launched as part of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (June 21-27).

“The #TipTossTakeAction campaign allows residents and city officials to take an active role in protecting their communities by working closely with GLACVCD staff,” GLACVCD Community Affairs Director Mary-Joy Coburn said.

2 Men Confirmed With West Nile Virus In Stanislaus County

From CBS Sacramento
June 22, 2020

STANISLAUS COUNTY (CBS13) — Two human cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Stanislaus County, officials said on Monday.

According to a release from the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, two men were recently tested and confirmed to have the virus. Both of the men were not showing any symptoms of the potentially deadly disease.

The two cases are the first two confirmed West Nile Virus cases confirmed in Stanislaus County this season.

West Nile Virus often spreads to people and animals through mosquito bites. It’s a disease that sees an increase in cases come the summer months.

While most people will only develop symptoms like headache, fever and fatigue, less than 1 percent of cases could develop into more serious complications.

This season, health officials say at least 10 California counts have been confirmed with West Nile virus through testing of dead birds and mosquito samples.

Mosquito Population Four Times Higher Than Normal in the San Gabriel Valley

From Pasadena Now
June 22, 2020

Mosquitoes were four times higher in numbers last week in San Gabriel Valley than they were in 2018 and 2019, data from the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGVMVCD) showed.

The data was reported out Sunday, as Pasadena begins to observe National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 21-28. The SGVMVCD obtained from mosquito surveillance traps examined between June 8 and 12 at various sites within the Valley, including Pasadena.

The SGVMVCD said they have tested mosquitoes collected in Hacienda Heights, the second largest census designated place in Los Angeles County, positive for carrying West Nile virus.

In Orange County, mosquito control officials confirmed they are detecting five times the average mosquitoes in their surveillance traps compared to 2019.

To prevent the spread of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, the SGVMVCD advocates for three simple steps that residents should practice: Tip, Toss and Protect – Tip out stagnant water, Toss unused containers that can collect stagnant water, and Protect yourself from mosquito bites by using repellent.

San Joaquin County hands out fish to curb mosquito population

From KCRA 3
June 22, 2020

It’s that time of year — the mosquitoes are out.

San Joaquin County officials are trying to reduce the number of mosquito populations with free fish.

Advertisement

This week, mosquito and vector control is handing out mosquitofish.

The fish can be put in ornamental ponds, animal water troughs and neglected water pools, where they eat mosquito larvae. According to county officials, the fish can consume 100 to 500 mosquito larvae per day.

People can get up to 15 fish along with a small bag of fish food and informational brochures.

Those interested can contact the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District for delivery information and the distribution schedule.

Santa Clara to be sprayed after mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus

From the Mercury News
June 19, 2020

SANTA CLARA – A swath of Santa Clara is set to be sprayed after mosquitoes there tested positive for West Nile Virus.

The infected insects were collected from portions of the 95054, 95051 and 95050 ZIP code areas, the Santa Clara County Vector Control District said in a news release.

The district said the target zone is largely industrial and commercial, with about 10 percent residential. It is bounded by Montague Expressway and Walsh Avenue to the north, De La Cruz Boulevard and West Trimble Road to the east, Warburton Avenue to the south and Bowers Avenue to the west.

The spraying operation is slated to begin at 10 p.m. Tuesday and will take three hours to complete.

West Nile Virus detected in Elk Grove

From the Elk Grove Citizen
June 19, 2020

A mosquito sample tested positive for the West Nile Virus in Elk Grove, local mosquito control officials announced on June 10. This marks the first time that the virus was detected in mosquitoes in Sacramento County this year.

Gary Goodman, the general manager of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, said mosquito activity has increased during the recent, hot weather.

“It’s important for residents to take these findings seriously and do everything they can to protect themselves,” he said in a press statement.

West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus that infects humans and cause flulike symptoms in mild cases, and can become lethal in severe cases. There were 225 confirmed West Nile human cases and six deaths in California last year, Goodman’s district staff reported.

West Nile has been detected in mosquitoes and dead birds in Sacramento and Yolo counties over the past 15 years.

West Nile virus makes its way back to Las Vegas

From News 3 Las Vegas
June 19th, 2020

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As if 2020 wasn’t hard enough already, West Nile Virus is back for another summer.

According to the Southern Nevada Health District 26 mosquitos tested positive last week.

All of them captured in the 89120 zip code.

An area that includes Sunset Park.

That’s where Kyara Solorzano was fishing Friday morning.

“I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never been fishing here,” she says,

While the fish weren’t biting, fortunately neither were the mosquitos.

West Nile still biggest risk, but mosquito season may bring other threats

From the Daily Republic
June 19, 2020

FAIRFIELD — West Nile is not the only concern as mosquito season starts to take hold.

Chikungunya, dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika, all of which are costly to treat and can have long-term health and financial consequences, can be transmitted by infected mosquitos, which are known to be in California and are expanding their range.

Richard Snyder, manager of the Solano County Mosquito Abatement District, said the invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been found in neighboring counties, but not in Solano.

“They are in Sacramento County right now, and San Joaquin County,” Snyder said. “We have been actively surveilling for them with trapping methods, and hoping we don’t find any.”

Generally speaking, Snyder said, the mosquitoes are brought into a county by humans.

Double trouble: South Asia braces for dengue outbreak amid coronavirus pandemic

From CGTN
June 19, 2020

As the coronavirus continues leaving a trail of devastation behind globally, another deadly virus is rearing its ugly head in South Asia – dengue fever.

The monsoon months in the region, between late May and September, bring much needed rain but also mosquito-borne diseases. And this includes dengue fever, an illness caused by an infection with a virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which currently has no cure.

Even without the backdrop of a global pandemic, dengue cases have seen a dramatic spike in the past decade due to erratic storms, rising global temperatures, and unplanned rapid urbanization. Last month alone, India and Bangladesh were hit by the biggest storm in 20 years, forcing five million to evacuate.

An estimated 400 million dengue infections happen around the world each year, killing some 25,000 people annually. According to the World Health Organization, 2019 saw the most number of cases reported, with Asian countries bearing approximately 70 percent of the disease burden.

Orange County officials warn of rising mosquito count

From FOX 11
June 18, 2020

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A perfect storm of events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have boosted the mosquito population in Orange County, vector control officials said Wednesday.

Light misty rains in May, higher than usual spring temperatures, reductions in staffing due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the economic downturn discouraging residents from more regular cleaning of their pools are among the reasons for the higher mosquito counts, said Heather Hyland, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

For the past six weeks, the OCMVCD has been averaging higher mosquito counts compared with the same period last year. The district’s traps are averaging 110 mosquitoes per trap, compared to 24 per trap last year at this time.

Mistaken identity? Some Texans think mostly-harmless cicada killer wasps are Asian giant hornets

From KXAN
June 17, 2020

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mostly-harmless Cicada killer wasps that emerge in Texas every summer are being confused for so-called Asian “murder hornets” that have caused panic in the United States, an entomologist has said.

She said there’s no need to worry here in Texas because the giant hornets, which can reach up to two inches in length, have not been found in the U.S. outside of Washington state.

Despite their name, cicada killer wasps are mostly harmless to humans – their name comes from their hunting of cicadas.

Entomologist Wizzie Brown said people have been emailing her with concerns about the cicada killers, which are being mistaken for the Asian giant hornets due to their large size and distinctive coloring.

O.C. sees rise in mosquito activity as neighboring counties report positive West Nile Virus tests

From KTLA
June 16, 2020

Orange County has seen an an uptick in mosquito activity in urban and coastal areas, recording higher than average counts of the bloodthirsty insect for six straight weeks, officials said Tuesday.

This year’s mosquito count is nearly five times higher than last year’s and double the county’s five-year average, according to a news release from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Collection traps have captured an average of 110 mosquitoes each, compared to 24 per trap at this time last year, the release stated.

Asian giant hornet panic is oversized — and threatens native insects

From Capital Press
June 10, 2020

The U.S. has 3,141 counties, but just one, Whatcom County in northern Washington state, has documented sightings of the Asian giant hornet, dubbed “murder hornet.” Even there, only three specimens have been confirmed.

But news reports about the hornets that went viral early May have sparked nationwide panic. For over a month, entomologists coast to coast have been swamped with questions and false sightings, and they say the frenzy has prompted a backlash: people are indiscriminately killing beneficial bumble bees, wasps, hornets and native species.

Volcanic Glass Could Potentially Control Mosquito Population

From Nature World News
June 10, 2020

The findings of a new study show that a residual spray that contains a combination of perlite, a type of volcanic glass, and water is effective against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The study results can help reduce the populations of these mosquitoes in Africa and thereby reduce the risk of malaria.

According to the study, malaria is a fatal mosquito-borne disease and a primary cause of death of sub-Saharan Africans. This disease is also competing against TB and AIDS as the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

Malaria deaths in Africa have significantly gone down from an annual rate of 1.8 million deaths to an estimated of only half a million in 2020 through a combination of bed nets and indoor spraying. However, malaria-carrying mosquitoes are showing widespread resistance to pyrethroids and increasing resistance to recommended insecticides by the World Health Organization.

Region’s first mosquito sample of year finds West Nile virus activity in Elk Grove

From The Sacramento Bee
June 10, 2020

The year’s first mosquito sample revealed that insects carrying the West Nile virus already have arrived in the Elk Grove area.

“The very warm weather we’ve had recently increased the number of mosquitoes and accelerated virus activity,” said Gary Goodman, the manager of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. “It’s important for residents to take these findings seriously and do everything they can to protect themselves.”

This news comes even as the Sacramento region is seeing an increase in cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

New antivirals for influenza and Zika

From EurekAlert!
June 9, 2020

Leuven researchers have deployed synthetic amyloids to trigger protein misfolding as a strategy to combat the influenza A and Zika virus.

Amyloids are particular protein assemblies with properties similar to silk, that serve numerous functions. They also form upon protein misfolding resulting in protein inactivation.

Frederic Rousseau and Joost Schymkowitz (VIB-KU Leuven) used these properties to invent synthetic amyloid peptides that can be tailored to switch-off the function of desired target proteins. These peptides, termed Pept-ins, already proved to be a valuable approach to tackle bacterial pathogens or slow down tumor growth. Now, Schymkowitz and Rousseau’s team wanted to explore whether pept-ins could also be used to inactivate viral proteins and thereby interfere with viral replication.