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Neighboring Areas Report Increase in Potentially Deadly Mosquito Population

Published on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 | 9:26 am
 

Experts at the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District are reporting an uptick in invasive Asian tiger mosquito activity last week in a recent news release.

This mosquito was first identified in the San Gabriel Valley last September. In early May of this year, additional mosquitoes were collected indicating that they had survived the winter. Between May 10 and June 8, the mosquito had only been found at 5 sites in El Monte and 7 in South El Monte. Last week; 7 new sites were identified in El Monte, 6 of those on Friday, June 15, alone.

The mosquito can carry viruses like dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and several viruses that can cause encephalitis. It is responsible for deaths of thousands of people and bringing serious illness to tens of thousands more in Asia each year. This species is responsible for recent outbreaks of dengue virus in south Florida, Texas, and Hawai’i, a virus not seen in the continental United States since 1946.

Kelly Middleton, spokeswoman for the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito Vector Control District told Pasadena Now that it is easy to identify the Asian tiger mosquito because it is not typical of the mosquitoes found in the area. The non-native Asian tiger is small (approx. 1/4inch), with distinctive black and white bands on its thorax, abdomen, and legs. They are aggressive biters and are active during daylight hours as well as dusk and dawn.

Currently, the infestation is within an approximate three-mile area bounded generally by Merced Avenue to the west, Valley Blvd/San Bernardino Fwy. to the north, and Durfee Ave. to the southeast.

“We are very concerned that even with our considerable efforts in this area, the mosquitoes continue to proliferate,” said manager Kenn Fujioka, “It only takes one container of water in someone’s backyard to breed hundreds of mosquitoes.”

The District has had a team of 8 full-time vector control technicians working daily in the area since April, and employed the services of an additional 6 California Conservation Corps members through the month of May to assist with our door-to-door inspections and education efforts.

The Asian tiger mosquito thrives in warm weather and can complete its life-cycle in as few as 5 days during summer. Recent warm spells may have provided conditions favorable to the rapid development of mosquitoes from eggs laid in common outdoor containers.

To break their life cycle, residents are advised to remove all containers that are currently holding water or have held water in the past (where eggs may still reside).

“We recommend residents check their yard for old plastic bins, buckets, tarps, trash, etc. and dispose of unneeded items. Other items like plant saucers, decorative pots, bird baths, and small fountains should be removed, inverted, or stored indoors,” said Fujioka.

Used tires are also among the most ideal nursery conditions for mosquitoes. These should be removed from every yard. As such a free used tire recycling event will be held Saturday June 23rd from 9am –3pm at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte. For more information, please visit: http://ladpw.org/epd/tirerecycling/collection.cfm.

“The community must support us by allowing us access to inspect for mosquitoes as well as help by removing all sources of standing water. This is our small window of opportunity,” notes Fujioka, “If we are not successful now, all of us must forever accept the blame for letting this significant new menace and vector of several significant diseases establish itself in our communities.”

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