VECTOR CONTROL PROGRAM: MOSQUITOES
BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Mosquitoes can transmit many illnesses to humans. However, in the United States, mosquito-borne diseases are limited to:
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis
- St. Louis Encephalitis Virus
- West Nile Virus
The most common, St. Louis Encephalitis, occurs on an average of 200 cases annually. Symptoms of these diseases range from the less serious, such as: fever, headache and drowsiness, to brain inflammation and meningitis. The symptoms can be more severe in the elderly, infants, and immuno-compromised people. Mosquito abatement and control plays an important role in limiting the occurrence of mosquito-borne disease.
Mosquito breeding season is from May through October. Since these insects need water to complete their life cycle, they are most active in and around stagnant water. Department of Health and Human Services' staff provides mosquito surveillance on a weekly basis by monitoring potential breeding sites for mosquito habitation such as ditches, canals, ponds, and neighborhood gutters. Once mosquito habitation is identified, staff applies appropriate control measures.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PREVENT INFESTATION:
- Change pet water bowl
- Clean clogged roof gutters once a year
- Clean or chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used
- Dispose of tin cans, discarded tires, plastic containers
- Drain or fill low spots in the ground
- Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers to prevent moisture from collecting
- Eliminate standing water
NOTICING INCREASED MOSQUITO ACTIVITY? REPORT IT.
Submit a report through the Health Department's online mosquito report form or by calling 562.570.4132. Community reports help the Health Department track mosquito activity and inform mosquito surveillance efforts throughout Long Beach.
Rain barrels are great at capturing rainwater. However, if not maintained properly, your water conservation efforts can come back to bite you.One of the most common problems with rain barrels is mosquito breeding. Did you know thousands of mosquitoes can emerge from standing water in a rain barrel?
Here are a few tips to help you keep those disease-transmitting insects far away from your rain barrel:
Cover the Barrel
• Use a fine mesh, wire screen to keep mosquitoes from laying their eggs. Also, don’t forget to cover the downspout that connects to the roof gutter. Mosquitoes can readily enter the downspout into your barrel.
• You can purchase the screens with the barrels or separately at hardware/gardening stores
Empty Barrels Regularly
• Use up all your water and empty out your barrel once a week to keep water from becoming stagnant.
• Even with overflow valves and spigots, some water can be left at the bottom of the barrel. Make sure to empty the barrel completely because mosquitoes don’t need much water to breed.
Use Bacterial Larvicides
• Purchase a product like “Mosquito Dunks” and use them to kill off those pesky mosquito larvae.
• These larvicides specially target mosquito larvae and do not cause harm to pets, fish or humans (when used in accordance to the label instructions).
MOSQUITO ABATEMENT
Once mosquito population thresholds are exceeded, staff apply appropriate control measures that minimize environmental impacts while maximizing results.
- Use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the preferred approach by the Long Beach Vector Control Program. This approach uses natural methods to control mosquito populations. IPM can be accomplished by altering the habitat of the mosquito by clearing brush and other vegetation to allow water to circulate, which inhibits mosquito breeding. Mosquito eating fish can also be introduced into mosquito breeding habitats as an effective alternative to pesticide use.
- Use of pesticides is not the first choice to control mosquitoes. When pesticides are used, only licensed technicians are allowed to apply them and only within approved parameters.
MOSQUITO FISH
Mosquito fish are a critical part of the Vector Control Program’s integrated approach to mosquito control. Mosquito fish have a tremendous appetite for mosquito larvae and are very effective at preventing the production of mosquitoes in water containers that are too large to dump out. They are an excellent choice for non-chlorinated, out-of-service swimming pools, and ornamental ponds.
Mosquito fish are not native to California. They can upset the natural balance of the ecosystem, and therefore should not be used in situations where they may escape into natural waterways and become pests. If you have any questions about the appropriate placement of mosquito fish, please contact our office at (562) 570-4132 and/or complete Mosquito Fish Request Form and submit it to our office accordingly.
If at a later date, you would like to get rid of your mosquitofish, please do not take them to a pond or stream. It is against California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for private citizens to plant mosquito fish into waters of the state without a permit. – Title 14 CCR, Fish and Game Code, Sections 1.63, 6400, and 238.5
By informing the residents of the City of Long Beach about WNV, we can arm the public with knowledge to help reduce the risks of contracting the virus. Illnesses caused by WNV are largely preventable if residents know what to do to reduce the risks. Partnering with the community is the best way to fight the virus.
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Educating the public to take actions to eliminate stagnant and standing water on their properties reduces the risk of contracting WNV.
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Educational materials (flyers, posters) in various languages are distributed each year to the residents of Long Beach.
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Press releases and public service announcements help remind people WNV season is approaching and how to reduce the risks.
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Vector Control Staff attend various community events and fairs to better educate the community on WNV issues.
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Different forms of social media (facebook, twitter, youtube) are being developed to outreach and educate the public on WNV.
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Chicken Coop |
Mosquito Trap |
Mosquito Net |
The purpose of surveillance is to accurately identify and monitor the onset, spread, and risk of WNV in the community. Surveillance includes the monitoring of adult mosquito populations, mosquito infections, avian infections, and human cases.
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Mosquito breeding season is usually from May through October.
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Our staff provides mosquito surveillance on a weekly basis by monitoring potential breeding sites for mosquito habitation.
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Our staff use mosquito traps containing carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes. There are usually 10-22 traps located throughout the City. Mosquitoes collected in the traps are pooled into groups and submitted each week for testing. (See photo of mosquito trap above)
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Avian testing is done to detect the transmission of the virus in bird populations. Four chicken coops are dispersed throughout the city, and the chickens are bled every two weeks. (See photo of chicken coop above) These blood samples are sent to the State for WNV testing. Dead birds and squirrels are also collected and submitted to the State for WNV testing. Avian testing is a valuable tool for predicting and tracking WNV.
