Are you careful to empty standing water from containers such as saucers, planting pots, old tires, and buckets? If not, you may be providing the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos carrying West Nile Virus or for the newly detected Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can carry yellow fever, dengue fever and chikungunya (though these diseases are not native to San Diego and have not been detected here yet).
West Nile Virus is a disease transmitted to humans and animals via infected mosquitos. It is present in every county in California and was the cause of a La Mesa man’s death in October 2014.
San Diego & The Aedes Aegypti
The Aedes aegypti mosquito was first detected in San Diego County in 2014 and has recently been detected again in 2015. Though no cases of the serious diseases that this mosquito might carry have been detected here, the County wants to eliminate this carrier and avoid any kind of disease transmission in the future. This mosquito’s particularities are that it feeds (bites) during the daylight hours, it breeds indoors as well as outdoors, and it is black with white stripes.
Clean Earth Restorations encourages you to review the mosquito prevention suggestions listed below. They are published by the County of San Diego Vector Control Program.
(image linked from www.countynewscenter.com)
Prevent Mosquitos From Breeding
Mosquitos only need a half of an inch of water to breed. Eliminate that possibility by:
- Covering or draining containers that can accumulate water such as trash bins, unused pools, old tires, buckets, and plant saucers
- Cleaning out bird baths every week
- Keeping high grasses cut and shrubs trimmed, so they cannot harbor mosquitos
- Fixing water leaks that cause puddles/standing water
- Adding Mosquito Fish to ornamental ponds (call (858) 694-2888 to request free Mosquito Fish from the County)
- Reporting green pools, dead birds and suspected mosquito breeding areas to the County by calling (858) 694-2888.
For a full checklist of property maintenance and personal safety tips you can use to fight the spread of West Nile Virus, see: Mosquito Prevention Checklist (published by the County)
A Reliable Water Damage Company Near You
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