County to conduct aerial mosquito-fighting larvicide drop next week

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As we expect to see more mosquitoes with the temperatures getting warmer, the County of San Diego is preparing to prevent them from breeding and spreading disease.

The county announced it will conduct its first routine aerial larvicide drop of the year next Wednesday via helicopters. The drops will also be done Thursday if needed.

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Larvicide drops are typically scheduled once a month from April to October. Next week, the helicopter larvicide drops will be done over up to 52 local waterways where mosquitoes are known to breed, covering nearly 1,400 acres.

Humans and pets will not be affected by the larvicide, but it will kill mosquito larvae before they mature into adult insects, the county explained.

One potential illness is the West Nile virus which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. It is most commonly spread by being bitten. Currently, there are no vaccines or medications to treat or prevent the virus.

Last year, there were over 2,400 cases of West Nile virus reported in the U.S. However, in San Diego County, only three or fewer people have tested positive annually since 2017.

To prevent mosquitoes from breeding and spreading potential disease, you are encouraged to dump out any standing water in plant saucers, rain gutters, garbage cans and old tires. You can also protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses by wearing long sleeves and pants or by using insect repellent when spending time outdoors.

For more information, go to San Diego County’s “Fight the Bite” website.

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