“Detections like this should serve as a reminder to wear insect repellent when outdoors,” Public Information Manager for the district Robert Gaona said. “Repellent with at least 30% of an active ingredient like DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535.”

The samples were collected near the intersections of Johnson Street and Avenue 81, Avenue 82 and Avenue 84.

St. Louis Encephalitis virus spreads when a female mosquito bites an infected bird and that mosquito can become a carrier to transmit to people, the district said. If a person becomes infected, symptoms could develop with fever, headaches, body aches and in some rare cases, death.

There is no human vaccine for a mosquito-borne virus.

With the addition of the three positive samples from Oasis, the number of positive mosquito-borne viruses in the Coachella Valley increased to five this year. However, no human cases of any mosquito-related viruses were reported in the state.

The agency urges the public to take precaution to reduce the risk of mosquito bites, which includes to dump and drain standing water around homes where the insects can breed and to use EPA-registered insect repellents when outdoors, especially at dawn or dusk. In addition, to ensure any window and door screen were in good repair and to report any mosquito problems to the district.

District officials said they will deploy additional technicians to the affected areas to conduct treatment using truck-mounted applications in order to prevent further spread of the virus and reduce mosquito populations.

More information can be found at www.cvmosquito.org.

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The Northwest Mosquito & Vector Control District has scheduled “Unmanned Aerial System” insecticide treatments on Tuesday morning along the Eastvale Community Park Trail, north of the Santa Ana River wash, south of Riverwalk Park, east of Dearborn Street and west of Hertz Place.

The district is planning UAS anti-mosquito operations around the same time throughout the ecological preserve on the southern edge of Lake Elsinore, near Summerly Community Park.

Unlike with low-volume insecticide spraying from trucks, the drones have to be operated in daylight hours. Specific times may vary Tuesday morning.

“These treatments will be performed by FAA-certified pilots, meeting all safety requirements,” according to a district statement.

No West Nile virus infections have been documented in Riverside County, nor anywhere else in California, so far this year. In 2024, a total 151 infections — including six in Riverside County — were recorded statewide, according to the California Department of Public Health. There were a dozen WNV- related deaths throughout the state, one of which was in Riverside County.

Mosquitoes typically become carriers of the virus after feeding on an infected bird and can then spread the potentially lethal strain to animals and humans. Those at greatest risk include seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms may never materialize, but include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes.

Mosquito season in Southern California generally spans May to October. To reduce exposure to mosquitoes, residents are urged to:

— spend as little time as possible outdoors at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are generally on the move;

— wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts during outdoor activity in mosquito-prone areas;

— use insect repellent;

— ensure door and window screens are fitted properly to keep bugs out; and

— get rid of standing water, aside from pools properly treated with chemicals.

Further information is available at northwestmvcd.org/.

The post Aerial Mosquito Spraying Planned Next Week In Lake Elsinore, Eastvale appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Dengue is primarily carried and transmitted by infected Aedes aegypti, a species of mosquito common to the Riverside County area. While seven human cases of the disease have been reported by Los Angeles and San Diego counties this year, none have been reported in Riverside County.

In addition, it is likely that the seven cases involved people who were traveling elsewhere, according to the statement from the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District.

“With fall temperatures, we often spend more time outdoors,” said Jeremy Wittie, general manager for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. He noted that mosquitoes are more active in the fall and emphasized that wearing repellent is essential to staying healthy.

The district urged residents to take a handful of steps to help control the spread of Aedes aegypti, including eliminating standing water sources where mosquitoes lay eggs. For those planning on traveling to active transmission areas, officials recommended applying repellents with EPA- registered ingredients and wearing long-sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and shoes.

Reported symptoms of dengue include aches and pains (such as eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain), nausea, vomiting, and rash, the statement said.

The district urged anyone with these symptoms to avoid mosquito bites and contact a medical provider.

The post Amid Dengue Cases, RivCo Residents Urged To Take Precautions appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Dengue is primarily carried and transmitted by infected Aedes aegypti, a species of mosquito common to the Riverside County area. While seven human cases of the disease have been reported by Los Angeles and San Diego counties this year, none have been reported in Riverside County.

In addition, it is likely that the seven cases involved people who were traveling elsewhere, according to the statement from the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District.

“With fall temperatures, we often spend more time outdoors,” said Jeremy Wittie, general manager for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. He noted that mosquitoes are more active in the fall and emphasized that wearing repellent is essential to staying healthy.

The district urged residents to take a handful of steps to help control the spread of Aedes aegypti, including eliminating standing water sources where mosquitoes lay eggs. For those planning on traveling to active transmission areas, officials recommended applying repellents with EPA- registered ingredients and wearing long-sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and shoes.

Reported symptoms of dengue include aches and pains (such as eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain), nausea, vomiting, and rash, the statement said.

The district urged anyone with these symptoms to avoid mosquito bites and contact a medical provider.

The post Amid Dengue Cases, RivCo Residents Urged To Take Precautions appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The effort includes releasing tens of thousands of sterilized male mosquitoes into the wild to mate with female mosquitoes, according to an April release from the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. The process is called the Sterile Insect Technique, or SIT, and was used by the California Department of Food and Agriculture to control the population of Mediterranean fruit flies in the state. The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District is also partnering on the move.

“SIT offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to reduce mosquito populations and ultimately minimize the transmission of diseases,” Steven Vetrone, Vector Control District director of scientific-technical services, said in the release.

The male mosquitoes have been sterilized using X-ray technology, officials said, and the eggs laid by female mosquitoes who mate with the released insects will not hatch, “decreasing the overall mosquito population over time.”

Vetrone told Newsweek over email on Friday that the first batch of sterilized male mosquitoes was released Thursday. The mosquitoes will be released “at a ratio between 7:1 and 10:1 sterile to wild males,” Vertrone added, and the releases will continue weekly until the end of October.

“At the height of the mosquito season, as many as 60,000 males a week might be released depending on wild population estimates in surveillance traps in the pilot area,” Vetrone said.

The mosquito species that scientists are hoping to curb is the invasive Aedes, which is able to transmit diseases including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Over two dozen counties in California reported the presence of Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, as of May 3, according to the state Department of Public Health. Los Angeles and Orange counties also contend with the Aedes albopictus, or the Asian tiger mosquito.

According to officials, cited by KCAL, the Aedes mosquitoes are resistant to common pesticides and often lay their eggs in small hidden water sources in residential yards and patio areas, which are hard to reach by control agencies.

The sterilized mosquitoes are being released into two Sunland-Tujunga neighborhoods under the SIT program. Vetrone said in the April release: “While the introduction of male mosquitoes may lead to an increase in noticeable overall insect presence, residents should be able to notice a reduction in biting activity,” as male mosquitoes do not bite.

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One area, near Celebration Park, is 116 acres. This location is bordered by Cactus Avenue to the North, Moreno Beach Drive to the East, John F. Kennedy Drive to the South and Oliver Street to the West. The second area, near Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club, is 30 acres. This second location is bordered by Moreno Beach Drive to the West, John F. Kennedy Drive to the South, Pete Dye Street to the East, and open golf area to the North. See map below.

The application of EPA approved mosquito control product Zenivex (EPA Reg No 2724-807) is scheduled for Wednesday (9/23) from 5:00am until 7:00am.

The product used is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the purpose of controlling mosquitoes and protecting public health. The product is applied according to label instructions by trained and certified technicians. Although the product poses very low to no risk, some people may prefer to avoid exposure. To minimize exposure, residents and pets should remain indoors and keep windows closed during and for 15 minutes following ground application. The amount of material sprayed is three ounces per acre, which ensures that humans, animals and crops are safe. Signs will be posted Monday (9/21) along the route
informing residents of the control efforts.

In addition, Vector Control staff are intensifying mosquito surveillance, searching out breeding sites, and conducting larval control where appropriate.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites:
Apply Insect Repellent. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Lemon eucalyptus oil should not be used on children under three years of age.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. Dawn and dusk are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. If mosquitoes are biting you during the daytime hours, please mention that when you call our office because it might help identify the species of mosquito in your area.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitoes away from skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home. Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places for mosquitoes to breed by draining/discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty and scrub out any unused flowerpots and wading pools. Change water in birdbaths, livestock troughs and pet bowls at least weekly, scrubbing thoroughly before refilling.

Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Please call the vector control office at 951-766-9454 if you have any questions, would like to report a mosquito problem in your area or to request mosquito larvae eating fish. You may also visit our website www.rivcoeh/programs/vector or Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/RiversideCountyEH/ for more information.

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