Warmer Temps Bring Focus on Mosquito Awareness Week
SACRAMENTO – With warmer weather hastening the arrival of mosquito season, posing a public health threat to California communities, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today he has introduced a resolution marking April 17- 23, 2022 as Mosquito Awareness Week.
“Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance -- they are a real public health threat,” said Sen. Dodd, who authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 93. “I encourage all California residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito-transmitted diseases. Dumping and draining standing water around your home and yard are easy ways to eliminate mosquitoes in your community.”
Mosquito experts say warm spring temperatures are prompting an early mosquito season and drought conditions may lead to increased West Nile virus activity. In general, mild winters have been associated with West Nile outbreaks, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Spread by Culex mosquitoes, West Nile virus is the most prevalent and serious mosquito-borne disease in California. There is no human vaccine for West Nile virus, a disease which can cause debilitating cases of meningitis, encephalitis, and even death. In 2021, there were 127 human West Nile virus disease cases from 28 counties in California, including 12 human deaths. Since 2003, more than 7,000 human disease cases have been reported, including more than 300 deaths.
And as California residents brace for a third year of drought, mosquito experts are concerned that the lack of water is also conducive to the spread of invasive Aedes mosquitoes, whose eggs are resistant to drying out and can survive for many months. These mosquitoes are particularly hard to control and pose a public health threat because they have the potential to spread serious diseases like Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever to people, and animal heartworm to pets.
“Climate change is magnifying the spread of invasive species, and we are seeing the effects first hand as invasive Aedes mosquitoes continue to spread throughout the state,” said Ken Klemme, president of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. “As drought mitigation measures are put into place, it is important for residents to remember that mosquito production can occur in water sources as small as a bottle cap. Water storage containers need to be sealed properly, and swimming pools and ornamental ponds should not be left unattended.”
Mosquito experts say the future of mosquito control requires innovation to protect the public from mosquito-borne disease risks. Specifically, mosquito and vector control agencies in California are exploring the potential use of three innovative technologies: self-limiting mosquitoes, Wolbachia and irradiation.
More information about the need for innovative technologies and how they work is available on the MVCAC website: www.mvcac.org
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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.