SAN Diego County is scheduled to conduct its first routine aerial larvicide drop of the year next week on up to 52 local waterways to help stop mosquitoes from potentially spreading diseases like West Nile virus.
County officials said helicopter larvicide drops will be done Wednesday (April 23), and Thursday (April 24) if necessary, to cover nearly 1,400 acres of hard-to-reach potential mosquito breeding areas.
The county started using helicopters to drop solid, granular larvicide on hard-to-reach areas of standing water in rivers, streams, ponds and other waterways where mosquitoes can breed in the early 2000s after West Nile virus arrived. The county conducts the aerial larvicide drops roughly once a month from April through October.
The larvicide does not hurt people or pets but kills mosquito larvae before they can grow into biting mosquitoes.
West Nile virus is mainly a bird disease. However, mosquitoes can pass the potentially deadly virus on to people by feeding on infected birds and then biting people.
West Nile virus’ effect has been relatively mild in San Diego County in the past few years. Three or fewer people have tested positive annually since 2017. But it can still be dangerous, and people should avoid mosquitoes.
The larvicide drops are just one part of Vector Control’s Integrated Vector Management Strategy. County Vector Control also monitors approximately 1,600 potential mosquito-breeding areas each year and applies larvicide through a variety of techniques — aerial drops, boats, trucks and hand-crews. It also gives out free mosquito-eating fish to the public, tracks down and treats neglected swimming pools, tests dead birds for West Nile virus and monitors mosquito populations for potential mosquito-borne illnesses.
Public has important role to play
County Vector Control officials are also reminding people to help protect themselves from mosquitoes in and around their homes by finding and dumping out standing water to keep the pests from breeding.
Protecting against mosquitoes has required more help from the public in recent years because several types of new invasive Aedes mosquitoes have established themselves here. Some of these mosquitoes can potentially transmit diseases not naturally found here, including Zika, dengue and chikungunya, if they become infected by biting a sick person and then feed on other people. Invasive Aedes mosquitoes prefer to live and breed around people’s homes and yards.
County Vector Control officials said the best way people can protect themselves from mosquitoes is to follow their “Prevent, Protect, Report” guidelines.
Prevent mosquito breeding
Dump out or remove any item inside or outside of homes that can hold water, such as plant saucers, rain gutters, buckets, garbage cans, toys, old tires, and wheelbarrows. Mosquito fish, available for free by contacting the Vector Control Program, may be used to control mosquito breeding in backyard standing water sources such as unmaintained swimming pools, ponds, fountains and horse troughs.
Protect yourself from mosquito bites
Protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses by wearing long sleeves and pants or use insect repellent when outdoors. Use insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Make sure screens on windows and doors are in good condition and secured to keep insects out.
Report increased mosquito activity and dead birds
Report increased mosquito activity, or stagnant, unmaintained swimming pools and other mosquito-breeding sources, as well as dead birds — dead crows, ravens, jays, hawks and owls — to the county Department of Environmental Health and Quality’s Vector Control Program by calling (858) 694-2888 or emailing [email protected].
If you have checked around your home for standing water and are still experiencing mosquito issues, you can request an educational mosquito inspection by contacting the Vector Control Program at (858) 694-2888.
For more information about mosquito-borne illnesses go to San Diego County’s “Fight the Bite” website at https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/deh/pests/Mosquitoes.html. Tips to help keep your yard from becoming a mosquito breeding ground can be watched via YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1E-N-zO_40&t=6s.
(Shauni Lyles/County of San Diego Communications Office)n
