The Turlock and Eastside mosquito abatement districts urge inhabitants to ‘Dump and Drain’ standing drinking water close to their qualities to avoid mosquitoes from turning into proven all over their houses and to secure themselves and their families.
Stanislaus County residents watched the heavy rainstorms for weeks and months this year. Now, they probably are seeing mosquitoes pop up around their homes and at local parks.
The Eastside and Turlock mosquito abatement districts are preparing for an abundance of mosquitoes as the weather warms up, and those bugs can transmit the West Nile virus and other diseases.
The Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers are expected to run high through July, creating flooded areas where mosquitoes multiply. The mosquitoes also are breeding in standing water left behind by the storms.
“In previous years with flooding, we had a lot of mosquitoes and we saw early transmission (of West Nile virus),” said David Heft, general manager of the Turlock Mosquito Abatement District.
Heft said an aggressive mosquito species called Aedes aegypti is more prevalent today and more difficult to control now that it lives in neighborhoods.
“Aedes aegypti only require a bottle cap full of water to start the next generation,” Heft said, in advising residents to dump and drain any items holding water.
The districts are stressing more resident responsibility, where neighbors take part in keeping the mosquitoes in check.
Last year, mosquito bites transmitted West Nile disease to 209 people and 16 horses in California. Stanislaus County public health recorded 15 cases of West Nile among residents. Another county resident came down with St. Louis encephalitis, also spread by mosquitoes.
Since West Nile virus first appeared in California in 2003, more than 7,000 cases and 300 deaths have been reported in the state, according to health officials.
The excessive amount of standing water this year is a potential recipe for a larger number of cases in 2023.
In less than 1{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} of infections, the West Nile virus causes a neurological disease including high fever, tremors, paralysis or even death. A less serious version of the illness, affecting 20{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} of those infected, may cause a fever, headache and body aches lasting for weeks.
The abatement districts are asking people for help with mosquito control by dumping pots and containers around their homes, repairing leaky faucets and broken sprinklers, covering trash cans and cleaning rain gutters.
The Turlock and Eastside districts will conduct surveillance and spray for mosquitoes in flooded areas along rivers. A news release issued Tuesday said mosquitoes are known to travel away from the rivers to nearby cities and neighborhoods.
Officials also are concerned about empty swimming pools that now contain leftover storm water and are urging homeowners to properly maintain their pools.
Other recommended measures include:
- Dumping and scrubbing pet dishes, birdbaths and kiddie pools every three days to remove larvae.
- Removing tires, tarps, buckets and other junk that can hold water.
- Making sure doors and window screens on your home are well-fitted.
- Avoiding over-watering the yard.
- Using insect repellent before going outside.
County residents north of the Tuolumne River can report mosquito problems by calling Eastside Mosquito Abatement District at 209- 522-4098. Other residents may call the Turlock district at 209-634-1234.
Ken Carlson addresses county governing administration and overall health treatment for The Modesto Bee. His coverage of public health and fitness, drugs, client health issues and the business of wellbeing treatment has appeared in The Bee for 15 yrs.