Mosquito Capable of Transmitting Dengue, Zika Trapped in Hemet

A mosquito breed that's capable of carrying and transmitting yellow fever and the Zika virus was netted in Hemet, Riverside County health officials reported this week.

According to the Department of Environmental Health, an Aedes aegypti specimen was pulled from a vector control trap on Monday near Johnston Avenue and Yale Street, on the south end of the city.

Departmental spokeswoman Dotti Merki said the little black-and-white mosquitoes, which prefer to feed on prey during the day, have the potential to spread Zika, Chikungunya and dengue, also known as "yellow fever."

"While these viruses are not currently transmitted in California, there is a potential for them to be introduced into the state through infected international travelers," Merki said. "In the presence of a large population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, a traveler who is a carrier and is bitten in California could become a source for transmitting a disease locally."

Last year, the mosquito species were located in several locations in the western part of the county. However, there were no identified cases of dengue, Zika or Chikungunya that originated from local sources.

Coachella has been contending with infestations of the mosquitoes this summer, prompting insect spraying operations throughout the city. The breed has also been identified recently in parts of Riverside and Corona.

The California Department of Public Health has created a map featuring Aedes aegypti hotspots: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Health... . According to state officials, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is present in about 60 California cities.

Like mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus, Aedes aegypti must first feed on a host that's infected before they can pass on the disease, according to health officials.

Aedes aegypti lay eggs above the water line, using anything from flower pots and bird baths to pet bowls.

"The species are capable of breeding in as little as a bottle cap of water, and the eggs can survive on surfaces even after water has been drained," Merki said. "As a result, residents should drain all standing water on their property and then scrub items that contained water."

Yellow fever is generally defined by elevated body temperature, severe headaches, eye pain, as well as joint and muscle pain, bleeding from the gums and nose and susceptibility to bruising. With proper treatment, fewer than 1 percent of cases are fatal, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Zika usually results in mild fever, a rash, join pain and red eye. Many people may not be aware they even have it, according to the CDC. Pregnant women are at highest risk, because their newborns can suffer exposure-related deformities.

Chikungunya also causes muscle pain and fever. Infants, as well as seniors with underlying medical disorders, are at highest risk of adverse effects.

Anyone with concerns about mosquito infestations should contact the Department of Environmental Health at (951) 766-9454. More information is available here: http://www.rivcoeh.org/Program... .

— By City News Service.

— Image via the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Flickr, Creative Commons.