Article Source:  San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District - CA

San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District
Local Agency
Public Health Education and Outreach Officer Rachel Curtis-Robles
 

Protect Yourself and Your Family from Mosquito Bites

Stay protected from mosquito bites and West Nile virus during the upcoming holiday weekend. West Nile virus has been detected in dead birds and adult mosquitoes throughout the Bay Area and many parts of California.

West Nile virus is primarily a disease of birds. However, humans, horses, and other animals can become infected with West Nile virus if bitten by an infected mosquito. West Nile virus cannot be spread from person to person.

“A mosquito infected with West Nile virus can pass the virus to any person it bites,” said District Manager Brian Weber. “It’s very important that residents are aware of the risk of West Nile virus and protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes.”

To date in 2024, the District has not detected West Nile virus in mosquitoes in San Mateo County during routine disease surveillance activities.  However, West Nile virus has been detected in 22 dead birds collected from throughout the County – mainly in the Menlo Park area.  West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the neighboring counties of Santa Clara County, Alameda County, and Contra Costa County.

“Especially on a holiday weekend, when many people travel and spend additional time outdoors, we’d like to remind everyone to stay safe from mosquito bites,” said Public Health Education and Outreach Officer Rachel Curtis-Robles. “Using an EPA-registered repellent provides safe, effective protection from mosquito bites and the diseases they can transmit.”

To prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of West Nile virus infection, people should:
-Avoid outdoor activities in the early morning and evening, since the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus bite during these times.
-Wear long sleeves and long pants if outdoors during early morning and evening to prevent mosquito bites.
-Use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535® according to label instructions. Insect repellents discourage mosquitoes from biting.
-Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens, and repair holes to keep mosquitoes out.

For assistance with a mosquito problem in San Mateo County, contact the District at 650­­-344-8592. For more information about West Nile virus and District services, go to the District’s website at www.smcmvcd.org.

To read more about EPA-registered repellents: https://www.smcmvcd.org/epa-registered-insect-repellent

To check where West Nile virus has been detected in California: https://westnile.ca.gov/

To learn about current West Nile virus information for San Mateo County: https://www.smcmvcd.org/current-west-nile-virus-information-for-san-mateo-county

###

Contact:
Rachel Curtis-Robles, PhD
rcurtis@smcmvcd.org
650-344-8592

About the San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District: We are an independent special government district focused on protecting the public health of the residents of San Mateo County through a science-based program of integrated vector management. The District delivers specific services to residents and businesses.

Alt text: Computer-generated image of an adult with a small child in a stroller surrounded by a dashed line with a mosquito outside of the line. A bottle of repellent has 'EPA Reg No 1234-567' highlighted.  Text reads "Protect yourself from mosquito bites and West Nile virus. Use an EPA-registered repellent for safe, effective prevention. EPA-registered repellents have a registration number on the container. Learn more at www.smcmvcd.org/epa-registered-insect-repellent. 650-344-8592   www.smcmvcd.org"