Santa Clara County to eradicate potentially lethal mosquito species
(KRON) — The County of Santa Clara will conduct a series of treatments to eradicate aedes aegypti, an invasive mosquito known to carry the Zika virus, an infection that causes birth defects and other lethal diseases.
The treatment will take place in a neighborhood in East San Jose surrounding Machado Lane. The district had discovered 12 of the day-biting mosquitoes in that area since early April, Santa Clara County said in a statement.
The district hasn’t been able to eliminate the mosquito population using its first-level response, which includes applying larvicide to potential mosquito habitat sources on private properties, with assistance from residents, too.
TREATMENT PLAN
The treatment, known as wide-area larvicide spraying, lasts about two hours. It involves a truck-mounted mist sprayer that targets mosquito larvae. The county said the mist is nontoxic to beneficial insects, wildlife, and us humans.
The first treatment will occur around 8:30 a.m. on May 29. The district will likely conduct several treatments in the area over the next few months, the county said.
The county said this mist is different from the treatment used to tackle the West Nile Virus, as it uses a different pesticide, occurs during the day, and targets larvae instead of the actual mosquito.
All these pesticides are approved by the federal and State environmental protection agencies and are widely used throughout California, the county said.
MORE ON AEDES AEGYPTI
Aedes aegypti is about a quarter-inch in size with black and white stripes on its back and legs. It does not fly long distances, venturing less than 500 feet from where it hatches.
The mosquitoes are “container breeders,” preferring to lay their eggs just above the water line in small, artificial sources of water such as buckets, pet dishes, fountains and bird baths, plant pots and saucers, and old tires.
This is the second time aedes aegypti has been detected in Santa Clara County. The district carried out a successful eradication plan for the first time when the non-native insect was detected at an industrial facility in north San Jose in the fall of 2022.
“This incident is more serious,” the county said. The number of mosquitoes is greater, and they are spread across multiple properties in a residential area. Warmer months also indicate the peak season for mosquito activity.
HOW TO PREPARE
Residents should:
Properly screen rain barrels, cisterns and irrigation drains to prevent mosquito access.
Fix leaky water faucets and broken sprinkler heads, and avoid overwatering lawns and plants.
Ensure window and door screens are in good condition with no holes or tears and are tight-fitting.
Make sure the water level of swimming pools is adequate for proper circulation and filtration.
To protect yourself from mosquito bites:
Apply insect repellents containing EPA-registered ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus, always following label instruction.
Wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, socks, and shoes when mosquitoes are most active.
Make sure your window and door screens are in good condition.
Residents experiencing mosquito bites during the day should report them immediately to the Vector Control District at (408) 918-4770 or vectorinfo@cep.sccgov.org.
If you are sick with fever, headache and joint or muscle pain after returning from an area where dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever or Zika occurs, contact your doctor and stay indoors as much as possible to avoid mosquito bites and help prevent the possible spread of the virus.
County officials from the Vector Control District and Public Health Department will hold a community meeting on May 28 to inform residents about the treatments and answer their questions. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Alum Rock Branch Library in San Jose, organizers said.
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