Sutter-Yuba district prepping for mosquito season
May 10—The Sutter-Yuba Mosquito Control District is preparing for another mosquito season and reminds the public to remove standing water from their homes and yards to deter growing mosquito populations.
With the conclusion of another wet season, the district warns that standing water can become a laying ground for mosquitoes and contribute to the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. Standing water can be found in many places, including bird baths, saucers under potted plants, pools or ornamental ponds, clogged gutters, house cooler units and tree holes.
Many of these water sources can be dumped out, but the district encourages residents to reach out for help removing larger bodies of standing water such as unmaintained swimming pools, which have been a priority for the district since the arrival of West Nile virus in 2004. There is no fee, penalty or charge for an inspection or treatment of a mosquito-producing pool, officials said.
Symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes a rash. In severe cases, symptoms could last several weeks, with some symptoms becoming more permanent. West Nile virus has already been detected in dead birds in some Bay Area counties, officials said.
"This could be a leading indicator that we will experience above-normal West Nile virus activity in the Yuba-Sutter area. All of us should be concerned and take steps to reduce our exposure to mosquito bites," District Manager Stephen Abshier said in a statement.
Residents can protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing an effective repellent, avoiding being outside during dusk and dawn, and wearing loose long pants and long sleeve shirts during outdoor activities.
For more information, contact the Sutter-Yuba Mosquito Control District by calling 530-674-5456.
