What does the District do to fight West Nile Virus?

West Nile virus was established locally in Sutter and Yuba counties in 2004. Each season since 2004, WNV activity has been detected.

Town spraying is an important means of keeping mosquito populations low in residential areas. A primary goal of the District is to stop the mosquito to human transmission cycle of all mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus. The town spraying program implements ULV foggers to knock down mosquito numbers to reduce disease transmission chances. Normally truck mounted, ultra low volume foggers start at dusk spraying no longer than 3 hours. The District may also perform town spraying on a second evening if disease activity is high and mosquito counts become unusually elevated.

As agriculture production begins to produce mosquitoes, the District will begin a wide area campaign both by ground and by air to keep mosquitoes from encroaching on more densely populated towns and cities in our counties. Weekly routes are established to cover all areas of mosquito producing acres in the District when mosquito abundance thresholds are met or exceeded.

We expect to treat approximately 130,000 acres of rice with a target specific larvaecide. Additionally, we are expecting a good mosquitofish harvest and plan to make good use of them as mosquito larvae predators in area rice fields.

Additional summer employees will be hired to enhance the surveillance program. The District will use lab results from the dead bird surveillance program to establish local virus presence. Regularly submitted mosquito collections and sentinel chicken sera will also be used as a detection tool for West Nile Virus.

Algae-filled swimming pools and spas serve as breeding sites for disease transmitting mosquitoes. One dirty swimming pool is capable of breeding thousands of mosquitoes over the season. In an effort to control mosquitoes being produced in an increasing number of unmaintained swimming pools and spas, the District will contract with a helicopter service to provide the locations of these important backyard mosquito sources. These sources can produce one of the primary vectors of West Nile Virus. The program is not meant to be punitive, but only a means to reduce the serious threat that exists for our local families and neighborhoods.

When enjoying outdoor activities, especially in the morning and evening hours, we are recommending that you apply a mosquito repellant.

Home | Sitemap | Contact Us