S.J. district to distribute free mosquitofish

The San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District will be giving away mosquitofish this week to county residents.

The giveaway comes on the heels of two mosquitoes found carrying West Nile virus west of Morada.

“Each resident will receive up to 15 fish depending on the size of the area where fish will be placed,” Aaron Devencenzi, the vector control district’s public information officer, said in a news release. “The district will provide a fish carry container, informational brochures, and a small bag of fish food.”

The fish can be placed in ornamental ponds, animal watering troughs, and other standing water that will not be chemically treated. Each fish can eat anywhere from 100 to 500 mosquito larvae per day, according to the district.

They require very little care, just supplemental feeding once a week in the summer and a little more food in the winter.

And they can live two to three years, with females giving birth every six weeks from spring to fall, so a small number of fish can help keep standing water free of mosquito larvae for years.

Controlling the mosquito population is important to help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus.

On June 14, the district announced that two mosquito samples taken in the 95219 zip code, just southwest of Lodi, tested positive for the virus.

“This is the first find of (West Nile virus) in San Joaquin County for 2018,” Devencenzi said.

While mosquitoes can spread the virus to humans, 80 percent of those infected with West Nile virus never develop symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When symptoms do appear, they include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Most people recover quickly, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks, the CDC said.

A very small number of people — about 1 in 150 — develop serious symptoms such as inflammation of the brain or meningitis. Serious symptoms include a high fever, headache, neck stiffness, confusion, coma, tremors, convulsions, vision loss, paralysis, and other central nervous system issues.

Anyone developing symptoms of West Nile virus after being bitten by a mosquito should see their health care provider.

There are steps residents can take to help minimize West Nile risk, Devencenzi said. They include:

• Eliminating untreated standing water on your property. Mosquitofish can be added to untreated water, or fish-free water can be treated with chlorine (for example, a swimming pool).

• Applying insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin when outdoors.

• Avoiding time outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

• Equipping doors and windows with tight-fitting screens.

• Vaccinating horses against West Nile virus.

“With warm weather, mosquito populations will continue to increase, leading to an elevated risk of (West Nile virus) in humans,” Devencenzi said.

Any significant mosquito infestations should be reported to the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District at 209-9824675, 800-300-4675 or