Products to control mosquito larvae will be applied in Cathedral City

Posted on September 12, 2024 at 11:00am

Coachella Valley, CA The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District has scheduled truck-mounted mosquito control applications in Cathedral City. The applications will target the Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. Commonly referred to as the ankle biter mosquito, Aedes aegypti is an invasive mosquito species first detected in the Coachella Valley in 2016 and capable of transmitting serious viruses, such as chikungunya, yellow fever, dengue, and Zika. Local transmission of these viruses has not been detected in the Coachella Valley.

Where: Truck-mounted applications are scheduled within the boundaries of Avenida Maravilla (west), Tachevah Drive (north), Santoro Drive (east), McCallum Way (south).

When: Saturday, September 14th, between 12:00am and 5:00am, weather permitting.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are small (about ¼ inch), black and white, and feed almost exclusively on humans, biting aggressively all day long. To eliminate this mosquito, people need to eliminate all possible standing water sources where mosquitoes lay eggs. The public plays a critical role in helping to control the spread of this mosquito.

“Reducing the population of Aedes aegypti is the District’s main goal to prevent local transmission of the viruses they can transmit, but we cannot do it alone.” says Jeremy Wittie, General Manager for the District. “Populations of these mosquitoes’ peak in September and October. Residents play a vital role in reducing the abundance and distribution of this mosquito by draining or removing containers with standing water weekly.”

The District recommends that people making plans to travel to areas with active transmission of chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses protect themselves from mosquito bites by applying repellents containing EPA-registered ingredients, and wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and shoes. Upon returning home, the CDC recommends wearing mosquito repellent for an additional three-week period to prevent potentially infecting local mosquitoes. Individuals infected with these viruses may experience symptoms, such as fever, headache, joint pain, muscle aches, seizures, rashes, and in rare cases, death. Should people experience any of these symptoms, the District urges them to protect themselves from mosquito bites locally and to contact their health care provider.