A female Aedes aegypti is in the process of acquiring blood meal from a human host.James Gathany Center for Disease Control File Photo
Watsonville – An invasive species of Aedes aegypti has been detected in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County officials announced Monday.
Tiny mosquitoes that display black and white spots can carry dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever, but none of these viruses are currently found in California, according to a county statement.
This was the first locally detected Aedes aegypti mosquito in a year and was confirmed by Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control near East Lake Avenue and Holohan Road. The mosquito is also found in Contra Costa, Sacramento, and Merced counties, and is more common in the southeastern United States and Arizona. They are known to be particularly aggressive and can attack at any time of the day or night.
“Our goal is to control and eliminate this mosquito population,” said Vector Control Manager Amanda Poulsen in a prepared release. “We are doing everything we can to keep this mosquito from becoming established in our community.”
Mosquito and vector control officials are working with county health services agencies to “assess the extent of the spread” and “actively target problem areas to prevent its spread.”
Local agencies have expanded their surveillance efforts for small insects, deploying a variety of traps aimed at catching eggs and full-grown adults. We have also started knocking on the doors of nearby homes to investigate properties.
According to the release, Aedes aegypti can be found in small vessels and containers that hold water, such as dishes, potted water basins, bird baths, feeders, decorative fountains, tin cans, children’s toys, and discarded tires. It lays an egg just above.
“It’s important that residents look around their properties and dump even the tiniest amount of water,” county officials wrote. “Their eggs stick to surfaces they are laid on, so it’s important to clean and scrub bird baths and pet watering dishes weekly, and to dump water from overflow dishes under potted plants.”
After returning from areas where dengue, chikungunya, or Zika are common, local residents who are ill with fever, headache, joint or muscle pain should call their doctor and stay indoors as much as possible to avoid mosquito bites. public health officials advise.
according to Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAreas with previous outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue are at increased risk of Zika. These regions include Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam.
For more information, see: agdept.com again CDC.gov.
prevent mosquito bites
• Apply a repellent containing EPA-registered ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, and IR3535. Apply according to product label directions.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes when mosquitoes are most active.
• Double check that your window and door screens are in good repair.
• Residents who are bitten by mosquitoes during the day should immediately report to county mosquito and vector management. agdept.com Or call (831) 454-2590.
