O.C. mosquito population climbs 330%
County officials urge actions by residents to guard against viruses spread by the Aedes variety, such as Zika.
The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District alerted residents this week to a large surge in the number of invasive Aedes mosquitoes.
Officials reported a 330% increase in the mosquito population across Orange County this year, with the largest numbers found in Santa Ana neighborhoods.
The mosquitoes can transmit dengue fever, chikungunya virus, yellow fever and Zika virus, the district said. Though there are currently no outbreaks of the viruses in Orange County, someone infected elsewhere could be bitten by a local mosquito, which then could bite someone else and spread the infection.
The mosquitoes were also reported in Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Westminster, Brea and Irvine. Officials are going door-to-door to inspect homes and eliminate standing water, where mosquitoes breed. Female mosquitoes need just a teaspoon of standing water to lay eggs, which can survive without water for at least six months.
Officials warned residents to take the following precautions:
Empty containers filled with water once a week.
Clean and scrub bird baths and water bowls of pets weekly.
Dump water from potted plant saucers.
Don’t move plant stems rooted in water.
Wear pants and long sleeves outdoors.
Apply mosquito repellent.
Residents can report unusual numbers of mosquitoes to the district by calling (714) 971-2421 or (949) 6542421.