From ABC7 News
September 19, 2017

The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control district announced a sharp spike in the presence of the invasive Aedes mosquito in Orange County.

The mosquito species Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) are not native to the county and are capable of transmitting debilitating viruses including Dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika.

While these viruses are not currently transmitted locally, transmission could begin if someone infected abroad returns to Orange County and is bitten by the invasive mosquito.

Vector control officials are urging residents to take the necessary precautions to reduce mosquito breeding and to avoid bites from these aggressive day-biting mosquitoes.

Two of the neighborhoods hit hardest are in Fullerton and Santa Ana. Warning signs are up in Raul Ramos’ neighborhood and now he knows to take them seriously.

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From The Eastsider
September 19, 2017

Officials will be going door-to-door in the Los Feliz-Glendale area on Wednesday, Sept. 20 to warn residents about the risks posed by the potentially deadly West Nile Virus after the area emerged as a hotspot for the mosquito-borne disease.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, the public health agency charged with fighting mosquito-borne illnesses, is taking extra precautionary steps after about a dozen human cases of West Nile virus have been detected in the Glendale-Los Feliz area since the beginning of the year, according to county health statistics. That represents nearly 15% of the 81 human cases reported so far in the county.

“Residents in Glendale, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, and Elysian Valley are at higher risk of getting sick from mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus,” according to a district press release. “Test results to date indicate a significant increase in WNV infection in Culex mosquitoes from these communities even though mosquito numbers in these areas are lower than the 5-year average. At this time of year, mosquito bite prevention is most important.”

District employees will be distributing educational materials to residents. In addition, the agency will partner with local officials to urge residents to prevent bites by wearing insect repellent and eliminating standing water sources around their yards and patios.

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From Visalia Times-Delta
September 14, 2017

As the weather cools down the number of mosquitoes are going up. And so is the number of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile Virus.

Climate, as well as the number of birds and mosquitoes, are factors that influence the virus. It is transmitted to humans and animals by a mosquito bite. 

As of Sept. 1, California Department of Public Health reported 87 human cases of West Nile Virus from 13 counties across the state — including Tulare County. Additionally, 239 dead birds collected from 30 counties and 2,284 mosquito samples from 24 counties tested positive for the virus this year.

“West Nile virus can cause a deadly infection in humans, and the elderly are particularly susceptible,” said Karen Smith, CDPH director and health officer. “August and September are peak periods of West Nile virus transmission in the state so we urge everyone to take every possible precaution to protect themselves against mosquito bites.”

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From Triplepundit.com
September 14, 2017

Hurricane Harvey’s devastating floods, which inundated vast tracks of neighborhoods in August and brought with it the chance of toxic leaks has raised concern recently about another environmental risk: the rise in mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika and West Nile. Southern U.S. locations are still dealing with lingering flooding and in an effort to be proactive, the Federal Environmental Management Agency says it plans to start spraying insecticide over the Houston area. It also has its eye on South Florida, which is already considered a natural breeding area for mosquitoes.

Many aerial sprays contain an organophosphate insecticide, which the Centers for Disease Control says is safe to use in populated areas. While FEMA and Texas Health and Human Services haven’t published what insecticide it will be aerial spraying, organophosphates are often the treatment of choice because of their low toxicity to humans.

But they are a problem for bees and by extension, for honey producers, which Houston’s surrounding countryside does support.

And widespread spraying for mosquitoes isn’t necessarily a simple answer for eradicating diseases like Zika, West Nile and dengue, researchers point out. It doesn’t stop the mosquito from breeding the next year or in the years following and the program costs millions of dollars to maintain (Many parts of Florida have maintained spray regimens for decades, unable to block the returning spread of West Nile and other diseases.)

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From KRCR TV
September 8, 2017

REDDING, Calif. – The first indication of West Nile virus (WNv) for 2017 has been reported in Shasta County in a positive dead bird collected in the Redding area.

Peter Bonkrude, district manager of the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District (SMVCD), stated, “The first WNv positive indicator is often identified in Shasta County during the warm summer months. The risk for human infection builds through the season and peaks in August and September. It is important that everyone take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites; it only takes one.”

SMVCD officials urge residents to take precautions by following the “4 Ds of protection”:

• Drain any standing water that may produce mosquitoes, including flower pots, old tires, and buckets. Some species of mosquitoes can lay their eggs in very small sources of water, like a bottle cap.
• Defend yourself and your home by using effective insect repellent, dressing protectively when outside and making sure screens on doors and windows are in good condition.
• Dusk or dawn, avoid outside activities.
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when mosquitos are active.

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From The East Bay Times
September 7, 2017

Aggressive yellowjacket populations are booming this year in the Bay Area as reports of complaints about nests hit records in some areas.

Winter rains produced plenty of insects to eat, which helped wasp nests thrive, insect experts say. Hot September weather  — like the Labor Day heat wave — spurred the insects to hunt more aggressively for food, increasing the opportunities for human encounters of a painful kind.

Vector control districts in Santa Clara and Alameda reported an unusually high number of public calls about yellowjackets, while Contra Costa is on pace to break its all-time high for yellowjacket service request of 972 set in 1999.

Public calls for help with yellowjackets have increased 83 percent in Contra Costa County so far this year. The vector district received 858 calls through Labor Day this year, up from 469 at the same time last year and more than the 744 calls during all of 2016, the district reported.

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From The New York Times
September 7, 2017

A mounting number of citations on a popular disease-tracking website suggests that mosquitoes may be moving into new ecological niches with greater frequency.

The website, ProMED mail, has carried more than a dozen such reports since June, all involving mosquito species known to transmit human diseases.

Most reports have concerned the United States, where, for example, Aedes aegypti — the yellow fever mosquito, which also spreads Zika, dengue and chikungunya — has been turning up in counties in California and Nevada where it had never, or only rarely, been seen.

Other reports have noted mosquito species found for the first time on certain South Pacific islands, or in parts of Europe where harsh winters previously kept them at bay.

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From San Bernardino Sun
August 31, 2017

SAN BERNARDINO >> San Bernardino County Public Health officials announced Thursday the first West Nile Virus death of the 2017 season.

The victim was described as an elderly western San Bernardino County male resident with serious health problems.

So far, there have been eight confirmed cases in San Bernardino County this year, up from six for the entire 2016 season. Two county residents died last year from the virus which is transmitted by mosquitoes, the county health department said, in a statement.

The San Bernardino County death was the third in California this season.

As of an August 25 update, the California Department of Public Health website reports 59 cases statewide, including 27 in Los Angeles County.

“The family has my sincerest condolences with the loss of their family member,” said San Bernardino County Health Officer Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare. “West Nile Virus can cause a deadly infection in humans, and I urge residents to take precautions and protect themselves against mosquito bites.”

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From Northridge Patch
August 17, 2017

WOODLAND HILLS, CA — Almost half of the 22 people from Los Angeles County who tested positive for West Nile virus so far this year are from the San Fernando Valley, a hot spot where the disease appears to be spreading this season, according to public health and vector control officials.

Officials with the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District this week reported a spike in West Nile virus activity, saying they found 49 infected mosquito samples in the region they serve in the last week alone, the Los Angeles Daily news reported. Statewide, Los Angeles County reported the highest number of people infected so far.

“San Fernando Valley is of heightened concern for us this year,” Susanne Kluh, the vector control district’s scientific-technical services director, said in a statement cited by the newspaper.

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August 17, 2017

MERCED, CA– The Merced County Mosquito Abatement District received confirmation that one sentinel chicken from Merced County tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLEV). SLEV is related to West Nile Virus (WNV) and is transmitted via the bite of Culex mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that transmit WNV.

Like WNV, most people who become infected with SLEV will never feel sick. People who do feel sick may have mild flulike symptoms; a small number of people will exhibit symptoms that include: headache, confusion, disorientation, and dizziness. Seizures, paralysis, coma, and sometimes death may occur. People who are older and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop the severe symptoms. There is no specific treatment for SLEV.

“The sentinel chicken sample that tested positive for SLEV is the first detection of the virus in Merced County in over 40 years”, according to General Manager Rhiannon Jones of Merced County Mosquito Abatement District. “People need to continue to take precautions by protecting themselves and their families from mosquito bites.”

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From The Sacramento Bee
August 15, 2017

The first human case this year of West Nile virus in Northern California was reported by Butte County health officials Tuesday.

The virus was identified by a blood donation center while it was performing regular screening on blood samples Friday. The donated blood was discarded, and the person in whose blood the virus was found has been notified, said Lisa Almaguer, a Butte County Public Health Department spokeswoman.

Almaguer said she could not disclose the location of the blood donation center or the city where the human case was found. Statewide, 22 cases of West Nile virus have been reported this year, mostly in Kern, Kings, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

The Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District said it is not notified of the locations of human cases until people show symptoms, District Manager Matt Ball said.

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From The Sacramento Bee
August 14, 2017

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have increased in the Elk Grove area, and authorities are boosting efforts to control their spread, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District said Monday.

Most mosquitoes testing positive for the virus were trapped south of Elk Grove, between Interstate 5 and Highway 99 and between Laguna Boulevard and Twin Cities Road, district manager Gary Goodman said in a statement.

Parks in the zone are being fogged, and any areas of standing water that might be breeding grounds for mosquitoes are being treated, said district spokeswoman Luz Robles.

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By Trina Wood on August 10, 2017, in Human & Animal Health

This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a bold step to enhance public-health preparedness for diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks in the nation’s southwest. With an $8 million grant from the CDC, University of California, Davis and Riverside researchers will launch the Pacific Southwest Regional Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases later this month.

“The southwestern U.S. is facing many new challenges in recent years from invasive mosquitoes and emerging pathogens, such as Zika virus, and we urgently need better options for their control,” said UC Davis epidemiologist and center Co-Director Chris Barker. “Funding for this center will enable important research to optimize the tools we have and to look for new ways forward, while training the next generation of public-health scientists.”

Drawing on just one area of science is not going to be sufficient for addressing the challenges presented by vector-borne diseases, which is the strength of the collaboration between the two UC campuses. Both are top-tier research and teaching institutions with leading experts in vector-borne diseases, including entomologists, epidemiologists, virologists and computer scientists who train a diverse group of scholars interested in public health.

According to entomologist and center Co-Director William Walton of UC Riverside, “this Center of Excellence will bring together researchers using the latest cutting edge approaches in the laboratory and field, with practitioners protecting public health to develop a community of practice and provide new technologies to prevent the occurrence of vector-borne diseases.”

The center’s funding begins later this month and continues through the end of 2021. The center has three specific goals:

• Conduct applied research to develop and test effective prevention and control tools to anticipate and respond to vector-borne disease outbreaks;
• Train vector biologists, entomologists, and physicians in the knowledge and skills required to address vector-borne disease concerns; and
• Strengthen and expand existing collaboration among academic communities and public health organizations at federal, state and local levels.

UC Davis and UC Riverside already have strong collaborations with the California Department of Public Health and Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, who will be critical partners in the center.

“The CDC’s support will enable us to build on these partnerships to ensure that our region of the U.S. will be ready to respond to future threats from vector-borne diseases,” Barker said.

From the San Mateo Daily Journal
August 7, 2017

Countywide agency recently commended for fiscal management, transparency

From an employee embezzlement scandal to receiving commendations for accountability practices, a little-known special district charged with public health has made significant strides over the last five years.

There hasn’t been much media buzz around the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District in recent times, and that’s a good thing. In the years since two former employees were caught embezzling nearly half a million dollars, officials now overseeing the district have tightened the reins on the agency responsible for protecting against vector-borne diseases. 

The mosquito district was recently praised in a San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report that investigated local special districts’ transparency practices. Its accomplishments include being awarded the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence and the District Distinction Designation from the California Special District Leadership Foundation this year. 

“The public’s trust in us is a first priority, we’re always looking for ways to be transparent and accountable, because ultimately we work for the citizens of this county,” said mosquito district spokeswoman Megan Sebay.

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From The Modesto Bee
August 7, 2017

A mosquito sample in Stanislaus County tested positive for the St. Louis encephalitis virus, which is capable of causing a potentially deadly illness.

The mosquitoes infected with St. Louis encephalitis were southwest of Modesto in the Grayson area.

The St. Louis variety is similar to the West Nile virus and is carried by the same kind of mosquitoes. Like a West Nile infection, a person bitten by an infected mosquito may come down with encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, with headache, dizziness, confusion, seizures or paralysis.

Most people infected won’t feel sick but some will have mild flu-like symptoms, health officials said. Older people and those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to getting the serious illness. No county residents are known to have come down with the St. Louis illness thus far.

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From The Sacramento Bee
July 31, 2017

Zika, dengue fever and other mosquito-born illnesses have surged to public attention in recent years, with Zika afflicting thousands of people across the Americas. The Zika outbreak that began in 2015 resulted in 1,835 babies born in Brazil with abnormal brain development or problems with their central nervous systems, according to the World Health Organization. Worldwide, another 3.2 million cases of dengue fever, which causes high fever and vomiting, were reported in 2016, according to the WHO.

University of California researchers are tackling the problem by working to develop genetic defenses against mosquito-borne diseases. The team, led by UC Riverside researcher Omar Akbari, recently received a four-year grant from the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency totaling $14.9 million.

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From CDPH
July 28, 2017

From Sierra Wave Media
July 26, 2017

Inyo County press release

The Owens Valley Mosquito Abatement Program (OVMAP) confirmed Tuesday that some mosquito samples trapped last week tested positive for West Nile Virus.

This is the first occurrence of West Nile Virus in Inyo County since 2011. Prior to that, West Nile Virus had been detected periodically in the Owens Valley after first being discovered in our area in 2004. During that period, no human infections were reported, but 3 horses died after being infected with West Nile Virus.

The three positive samples in Inyo County come during the same week that 214 samples were positive for the disease statewide.

“For every 100 people who are bitten by a West Nile Virus-carrying mosquito, only 20 are risk of contracting West Nile Virus, and of those, fewer than 1% are likely to experience life-threatening reactions” according to Inyo County Health Officer, Dr. James Richardson. Nevertheless, the public is urged to take precautions discussed below.

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From The Sacramento Bee
July 24, 2017

Yellowjacket infestations are hitting Sacramento County early this year, prompting specialists to eradicate the sometime aggressive insects whose sting can sometime kill.

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District has received numerous calls from residents battling yellowjacket nests on their property. The yellowjacket population problem usually shows itself in late summer or fall.

“It’s definitely early to see yellowjackets now,” said Gary Goodman, district manager.

The district has recently received calls from Rancho Cordova and Folsom, but the biggest problem has come from Herald, a rural community in southeastern Sacramento County.

“We recently treated nearly 90 yellowjacket nests on a five-acre property near the eucalyptus groves,” said Goodman. “When you consider that each nest can have hundreds to thousands of yellowjackets, this can quickly become a threat to residents.”

County residents may call the district if they need help in removing nests. If a colony is disturbed, the wasps can become persistent and pugnacious, increasing the risk of stings.

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From KRCR TV
July 17, 2017

PALERMO, Calif. – According to the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District, a mosquito pool in an area of north Honcut south Palermo has tested positive with the West Nile Virus. 

Officials said with increasing mosquito populations and the detection of WNV within Butte County, the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District urges 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 the bites of mosquitoes. 

This is the first positive indicator of WNV in the county for 2017. WNV is active throughout the State of California. WNV has been identified in Butte County every year since its arrival in 2004. Since 2004, 229 residents have been infected with the virus, eight of which lost their lives. 

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From Nasa.gov
June 28, 2017

In many parts of the world, mosquitoes are more than just a summertime nuisance. They spread diseases that kill nearly 2.7 million people a year. Now citizen scientists can use a NASA app to help those working to understand and reduce mosquito-borne diseases.

NASA has introduced the Mosquito Habitat Mapper as part of its GLOBE Observer app available for iPhone and Android. The app includes training, making it easy for anyone to use.

The Mosquito Habitat Mapper guides users through the process of identifying and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. It also gives citizen scientists the option to identify the mosquito species to determine whether it could transmit Zika, dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, and other diseases.

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From CaliforniaHealthline.org

This graphic details the Zika virus infections among California residents from 2015 through June 30, 2017. All cases on record have been among people who were infected while traveling to areas with ongoing Zika transmission, through sexual contact with an infected traveler or through maternal-fetal transmission. No direct transmission from mosquitoes to people has been documented in California. Birth defects have been detected in seven infants infected with Zika before, during or shortly after birth.

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A rap video with simple steps for personal protection against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, the two known mosquito vectors of Zika virus. Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites and taking actions to limit mosquitoes on your property. The mosquitoes that spread Zika develop exclusively in small containers commonly found holding water around the yard. 

From OCMVCD
June 26, 2017

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week is a Reminder to Orange County Residents to Protect Themselves

Garden Grove, CA. There is a new giant inflatable mosquito in town. The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) is introducing a giant black-and-white inflatable mosquito, depicting the two recently established invasive species of mosquitoes, for National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (June 25 – July 1), to raise awareness and educate residents about the threats mosquitoes pose in Orange County, and throughout the nation. The 13-foot mosquito will be displayed for the first time in public on Friday, June 30th at 4 PM on Historic Main Street (12891 Main St.) in the city of Garden Grove.   

“This giant inflatable mosquito is a fun way to educate Orange County residents about a not-so-fun fact: we now have these aggressive day-biting invasive mosquitoes that can make people sick and will change our quality of life in Orange County,” said Mary-Joy Coburn, Public Affairs Coordinator. “When a member of the public enters the booth, they learn facts about mosquitoes, how to eliminate breeding sources, and how to protect themselves from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne illnesses.”

Click here to read the full press release.

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week is a Reminder to Californians to Protect Themselves 

SACRAMENTO, June 22, 2017 – While California’s wettest winter in 122 years ended the state’s historic drought, the surge in rainfall could contribute to another threat: an active mosquito season with the potential for increased mosquito-borne virus transmission to people.

Heavy rains over the past six months have produced new sources of standing water throughout the state. As the weather heats up, these sources become ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes which could result in tens of thousands of potential virus transmitters, posing a health risk to Californians.

Mosquitoes in California actively transmit West Nile virus and Saint Louis encephalitis each year, and invasive mosquitoes detected in the state have the potential to transmit even more viruses such chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika.

Click here to read the full press release.

Last year, with the Western Hemisphere in the grip of a surprising Zika virus epidemic, CDC researchers used a survey to compile a list of U.S. counties where the mosquito at the heart of the epidemic, Aedes aegypti, had been documented over the past 21 years. They also documented counties that reported finding another mosquito, A. albopictus, known to transmit chikungunya and dengue viruses. The researchers said their data could be used to guide surveillance and mosquito control efforts across the country.

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