Health & Fitness
Mosquito Capable of Transmitting Zika Trapped in Nearby Palm Springs
Aedes agypti mosquitoes, which are not native to California, are capable of transmitting Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya.
PALM SPRINGS, CA - A Palm Springs infestation of mosquitoes capable of transmitting the Zika virus and other diseases led vector control officials Wednesday to urge residents to eliminate standing water sources at their homes.
The Aedes agypti mosquitoes were recently found within the area east of South Palm Canyon Drive, south of East Sunny Dunes Road, north of East Morongo Road and west of Scenic View Road.
The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District will be conducting a door-to-door campaign, which includes technicians searching for standing water sources and breeding sites at about 170 homes.
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Aedes agypti mosquitoes, which are not native to California, are capable of transmitting Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya, according to CVMVCD public information manager Jill Oviatt.
District officials emphasized that residents should take preventative measures to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs near their homes.
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"We found dozens of immature mosquitoes in man-made water sources," Oviatt said. "This mosquito species prefers feeding on humans and prefers living with people. If we want to get rid of it, people need to stop inviting it to their homes by eliminating stagnant water sources."
The mosquitoes were also detected this year in Coachella, Cathedral City and Indio. Officials say control efforts are ongoing in Cathedral City and Indio, while the mosquitoes' presence has dropped substantially in Coachella since its initial detection there in May.
The public is urged to inspect yards for standing water sources and to drain water that may have collected beneath potted plants, in bird baths or anywhere else water might collect. Laid eggs can remain viable in dry areas for months, according to CVMVCD.
Residents who are bitten by mosquitoes should report the bites to the district. Those just returning from travel in areas where dengue, chikungunya or Zika is found should contact their doctor if they experience fever, headache, joint or muscle pain. Those who are experiencing those symptoms were warned to stay indoors and to avoid mosquito bites.
— By City News Service / Image via the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Flickr, Creative Commons.
