Mosquito Spraying Starts In Parts Of Orange County Tuesday

WESTMINSTER, CA — The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District will conduct truck-mounted ultra-low volume adulticide treatment Tuesday through Thursday to address a surge of mosquitos and the risk of mosquito- borne disease in Garden Grove, Stanton, and Westminster.

The sprayings will happen from midnight to 5:30 a.m. within an area near the cross streets of Lampson and Western avenues, according to the district.

If numbers persist or disease is present, treatments may continue throughout the biting season.

According to the district, at the application rate the product will not harm:

— people or pets, even if present during the application;

— fruit trees, vegetable gardens, or fishponds; and

— bees, as the product is applied at a time when bees are not active.

There is no need to turn off air conditioning systems during the application, the district said.

The spraying come after mosquitos infected with West Nile virus were found in Orange County in July.

The mosquitoes were found in Westminster and Costa Mesa just before Independence Day weekend.

"We are seeing a lot of mosquito activity in general this year, considerably more than usual," said Brian Brannon, a spokesman for the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

"In a five-year average of mosquito abundance, we're off the charts," Brannon said. "Now we have positive West Nile Virus infections in 10 cities."

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been found in Newport Beach, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Cypress, Fullerton and Westminster. The infected pests have been found in four traps in Buena Park, twice in Santa Ana, and five times in Fullerton, but once in the other cities.