West Nile Virus Positive Mosquitoes Confirmed in Los Angeles County

PDF - PR_20240601_WNVMosquitoSample

This is the first positive West Nile virus mosquito sample within the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District service area for this year

Santa Fe Springs, CA (June 1, 2024) – The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD/District) has confirmed a West Nile virus (WNV) positive mosquito sample in Los Angeles County. The positive mosquito sample was collected from a mosquito trap in the community of Winnetka, a neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, confirming the presence of the virus in mosquito populations within the community.

“While the presence of West Nile Virus in our community is not unusual, this early detection serves as a critical reminder for all residents to take preventative actions,” said GLACVCD Director of Scientific-Technical Services Steve Vetrone. “We urge everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to eliminate standing water around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.”

The native Culex mosquito is capable of transmitting West Nile virus and is most active during dusk and dawn. Because there is no human vaccine for West Nile virus, residents must be proactive against mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent. Different kinds of mosquito repellents are available, but they do not all work equally well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends products with the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus as being safe and effective when used according to the labels.

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility, and residents must take an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their neighborhoods by taking these additional steps:

Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything else that holds water for over a week.
Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained.
Change the water in pet dishes, bird baths, and other small containers weekly.
Request mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds.
Report neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district.

For an extensive list of common indoor and outdoor sources and recommended solutions, visit bit.ly/diy-mosquito-solutions. For more information, residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656, online at www.GLAmosquito.org, or on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, Nextdoor, and YouTube.

###

Media | media@GLAmosquito.org | 562-758-6516

David Pailin, Communications Manager | dpailin@GLAmosquito.org | 562-758-6510

Website Accessibility Policy

Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District is fully committed to providing accessible facilities, elements and channels of communication to all members of the public. As part of this commitment, Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District has a policy of providing an accessible website compatible with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and commercial screen reading software. All features of the website are coded to allow individuals with vision and other impairments to understand and use the website to the same degree as someone without disabilities. We welcome feedback and can often resolve issues in a timely manner if they arise.

If you need any special assistance or accommodations:

Call us at 562-944-9656

Ongoing Compliance Information

Compliance Officer

Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District has designated a compliance officer for website disability-related accommodations. The compliance officer has received training in website accessibility and updates the site in accordance with those best practices. Contact our accessibility officer to report an issue.

Compliance Procedures and Reports

In addition to testing with users with a wide range of disabilities and coding our website to WCAG standards, Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District regularly scans its website to ensure ongoing compliance, and makes timely changes to any inaccessible changes, if any are found.

Linked Documents and Third Parties

Please note that this site may link out to third-party websites, such as state or federal agencies, that do not have accessible content. This site may also include documents provided by third parties included in our agenda packets, for example. While we cannot control the accessibility of content provided by third parties, we are happy to assist any member of the public with reading and accessing content on our site.

See an opportunity for us to improve? Please contact our accessibility officer or call us at 562-944-9656.

Report a Website Accessibility Issue

We are committed to your ability to access all content, and we will respond to all requests as soon as possible.