San Diego County is gearing up for an aerial assault against mosquitoes, with the first round of preventive larvicide drops set for next week to quell the risks of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. According to a release from the County of San Diego, the operations, which are part of the Vector Control Program's routine, will target up to 52 local waterways covering nearly 1,400 acres.
Scheduled for next Wednesday, April 23, and next Thursday, April 24, if needed, the treatments aim to disrupt mosquito breeding in inaccessible areas, including rivers and ponds. Carrying out the helicopter larvicide drops, often hard to reach, the County has turned to aerial means dating back to the early 2000s, following the arrival of West Nile virus in the region. The granular larvicide is designed to be harmless to humans and pets but lethal to mosquito larvae, stopping them before they can mature into disease-carrying pests.
Mosquito-borne illnesses, with West Nile virus at the forefront, pose a significant health concern, although San Diego County has witnessed relatively low human infection rates in recent years. As noted in the County News Center article, from 2017 onward, the area has seen three or fewer people testing positive annually for the virus. Despite the mild impact, officials caution the public to remain vigilant to mosquitoes' dangers and take preventive measures seriously.
Vector Control's initiatives extend beyond aerial applications, including surveilling roughly 1,600 potential breeding sites annually and employing various ground-based larvicide distribution techniques. Public engagement is crucial in this fight, with free mosquito-eating fish offered to address backyard breeding issues. To keep these pesky insects at bay, residents are urged to adopt the "Prevent, Protect, Report" guidelines by Vector Control.
