Mosquito District Monthly Reports

Article Source: San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District

Operations Report for March 2018

• One of the responsibilities of a Vector Control Technician is to keep any eye out for potential mosquito breeding sites. In early March technician, Hector Cardenas was responding to a complaint about mosquitoes in Hillsborough. During his investigation, he came across a large body of stagnant water that looked to be a prime candidate for mosquitoes. Fortunately, it was not breeding, but Hector will continue to monitor this site for mosquitoes. Our staff is constantly on the lookout for areas that under normal circumstances would not normally hold water, such as unfinished construction ,or recently excavated land set aside for housing developments.
  
• This month we conducted our annual respirator fit test for all of our employees who conduct vector control operations that require a respirator. This annual fit test not only protects our staff, but is also a reminder to read the label of the products they are using, which provides them a guideline on what type of personal protective equipment they should be using when applying these products.
• In March, a representative from the Recology, a waste management company in San Mateo County, contacted us with a concern about rodents at a commercial property. One of our technicians was tasked with inspecting this location. During the technician’s inspection, he did find evidence of rodent activity and was able to contact the owner of the property. The owner was very responsive and had already contacted a pest control company to set up rodent-proofing and trapping. We will continue to monitor the commercial property and work with surrounding businesses to make sure they are doing their part to limit the rodent population in this area.
• Sean Jones, District Mechanic and Vector Control Technician has been hard at work getting the airboat ready for the spring and summer season. Sean has had the fan blades refinished and sealed with a clear coat, replaced and repositioned the fuel pump, swapped out the old carburetor and has been able to the tune motor, so that it will be running smoothly for a long time. All of this maintenance is necessary to keep the boat in tiptop shape, especially with the heavy workload and the fact that it is primarily driven in salt water. Great job Sean!

March Laboratory Report

Upcoming West Nile Virus Season

West Nile virus season begins in California in mid-April. The District protects residents from this mosquito-borne disease with control that targets mosquitoes in the larval stage, mosquito population monitoring, disease surveillance and public education. The laboratory staff is prepared to conduct disease surveillance in three main ways:

• Sentinel Chickens
• Dead Bird Surveillance

The District will manage two sentinel chicken flocks of seven chickens each this season, in the cities East Palo Alto and San Mateo. These chickens will be transferred from a farm to their District coops the first week of April. Chicken blood will be tested every two weeks for West Nile virus, Saint Louis encephalitis and Western Equine encephalitis beginning April 16.

The District collects dead birds that are reported by residents. Dead birds should be in good condition without signs of decay or trauma. All bird species are accepted except water fowl, poultry or pigeons. Squirrels will not be tested this season. Residents are encouraged to call the state hotline phone number 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877- 968-2473), which opens with live operators on April 16. Online reports can be made at westnile.ca.gov.

• Mosquito-borne Disease Testing

The District laboratory submitted and passed proficiency panels supplied by Davis Arbovirus Research and Training (DART) for West Nile virus, Saint Louis encephalitis and Western Equine encephalitis. The proficiency panels ensure that the testing methods and equipment are capable of detecting these three viruses for the upcoming season and will be acceptable for reporting by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Our District will test saliva or ocular samples from dead birds and pooled whole mosquitoes for the presence of these viruses.

Tick Surveillance Update

During March, laboratory staff continued winter surveillance for adult Ixodes pacificus (Western black-legged ticks). Ticks are collected by dragging a 1 meter square piece of white flannel over the vegetation alongside trails. Laboratory staff have begun testing collected Ixodes pacificus ticks for the presence of bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Parks that were surveyed in March were Aflo Nuevo and Memorial Park near Pescadero, and Big Canyon Park and Eaton Park in San Carlos. Adult tick collections are completed for the 2017-2018 winter season. Nymphal tick surveillance is planned for spring.

Saint Louis Encephalitis

Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) is a mosquito-borne disease that was historically present in California, but became very rare after the arrival of West Nile virus in 2003. However, in the last two years there have been an increasing number of detections in mosquitoes and chickens and human disease cases from southern California. Continued surveillance for this virus is important because it might be resurging.

The disease cycle of SLE is similar to West Nile virus. Most transmission is between mosquitoes and birds but if an infected mosquito takes a blood meal from a human it can transmit the virus and the human might

become ill. Most people who are infected don’t exhibit symptoms. Those who do can have a stiff neck, fever, dizziness or tremors. In rare cases, coma can develop. No vaccines exist for SLE.

The main mosquito vectors for SLE are the same species as those that vector West Nile virus, mosquitoes of the Culex genus. Because of this, mosquito control efforts to prevent West Nile virus will also be effective at preventing SLE. However, disease surveillance is hampered by the fact that SLE virus does not kill birds. Although the District and the California Department of Public Health tests dead birds for the presence of SLE virus, it is not an effective surveillance method. Thus, testing of sentinel chicken blood and mosquitoes is critical for early detection of SLE virus.

Urban Carnivores – Learning to Live Together

You may have seen pictures or stories of them in the news, but how much of it is fact and how much is fiction? Can we coexist with urban carnivores, or is allowing them to move into our parks asking for trouble? Below are some quick facts about the three most common urban carnivores and some recommendations on how we can all learn to live with wildlife.

Coyotes

You may have heard their cries at dusk. Coyotes are one of the most common urban carnivores in San Mateo County and important predators of rodents. Coyotes also help control deer and Canada geese, which can be very destructive to gardens and grassy areas, by preying on their young and slowing their population growth. There is also evidence that coyotes may directly compete with raccoons, skunks and opossums which helps to reduce the numbers of these urban carnivores, as well. That being said, coyotes can be a challenge to live with. They will often attack and kill other smaller carnivores, such as foxes and domestic cats, and have been known to get into conflicts with domestic dogs. They can also carry a number of infectious diseases, such as canine distemper or leptospirosis, which may spread to pets.

Mountain Lions

Mountain lions are the largest wild cat found in North America and have more common names than any other species of mammal (such as puma, cougar, catamount, painter or panther). Mountain lions are strict carnivores and about 90% of their diet is composed of mule deer, raccoons, coyotes and badgers. A mountain lion can feed from a single deer kill for up to 5 days, but even their presence is enough to reduce the impact of deer on the environment by forcing them to not feed in one place for a long period of time. Mountain lions are powerful predators and attacks on humans and livestock are rare, but not unheard of. While there are a number of stories of lions coexisting with humans (provided they have enough range and prey to sustain themselves) it is important to recognize the possible danger they represent and take care while hiking or picnicking in mountain lion habitat.

Bobcats

Bobcats are the most widely distributed wild cat in North America. About twice the size of a domestic cat with spotted fur, tufted ears and a short tail, they can be hard to spot in the underbrush. Bobcats feed predominantly on small mammals such as rabbits, pocket gophers, and voles but may also take a bird. Bobcats that live near urban centers are predominantly nocturnal and may hold ranges of 2 square miles, which they hunt in alone. There is little evidence that bobcats ever attack pets. But they may contract diseases from domestic cats can and pass them to diseases to our pets.

Living with Wildlife

The most important thing to remember when living with carnivores is to keep your pets safe. Keep all pets indoors at night. Keep dogs on a leash if you go hiking for both their safety and the safety of local wildlife. Pet cats should always be kept indoors. Outdoor cats can be preyed on by many different carnivores (including hawks and owls) and may contract deadly diseases from wildlife or other cats. They may also be hit by cars or sustain injuries. Cats also decimate native bird populations so keeping them indoors is best for both their safety and the health of the environment. Finally, if you have livestock, make sure to move them into protective enclosures. Mountain lions can easily climb a 12-foot fence so if you live in lion habitat, move your animals inside a barn at night.

Keep Urban Carnivores Safe

Do not feed wildlife. It may be tempting to try to feed wildlife through the winter months, but artificial food sources may cause populations to grow to a point where the natural environment cannot sustain them. Starvation and a lack of fear of humans may cause animals to become desperate and aggressive – increasing the chance of injuries or attacks on pets.

Lastly, please do not use rodenticides or other control methods carelessly, as this may inadvertently harm urban carnivores, pets or other wildlife. Always follow the instructions on the box and select where and when you use these poisons carefully. Or contact a certified pest control specialist. These professionals are educated and certified in the best practices to both control rodents and keep wildlife safe. The best and most permanent method to control rodents is to exclude them from your home through simple changes like repairing screens and cutting foliage away from the roofline. The District can help by providing a rodent inspection, which will help identify areas where rodents may be entering.

Want to know more about urban carnivores and efforts to conserve them? www.urbancarnivores.com

has some great information on research being conducted in California.

Public Health Education and Outreach Program

• The open house is in 2 weeks! If you haven’t already, please make sure you have invited your city manager, mayor, city council members, other city staff, and key community groups. Feel free to post or distribute flyers in your city if you’d like. There will also be a press release and other event promotion starting this week.
• On March 6th, the District provided an information table at the Peninsula Infectious Diseases Conference hosted by the San Mateo Medical Association. We shared information on vector-borne disease in San Mateo County with 150 registered attendees, mostly physicians and registered nurses.
• Overall website traffic was up 28% in March compared to February, in part due to outreach related to the open house and seasonal employment opportunities, and in part due to February being a short month. There was an increase in traffic to the yellowjacket section of the website.
• Top 10 website pages in March 2018:
• Email campaigns in March:

• Homepage 6. Programs & Services
• Current Openings 7. About the District
• Yellowjackets and Wasps (Identification & Info) 8. Rodent Prevention
• Online Service Request 9. Fiscal Year 2017/2018
• Contact Us 10. Biting Mites

• In March, 28% of all service requests were submitted via the District website.

o March newsletter: 579 recipients, 36.2% opened, 8.0% clicked

• Vector-borne disease in the news in February:

• Hantavirus on the rise in San Diego County. The San Diego Union Tribune, Mar. 1st, 2018 (http://bit.ly/2oCjfmh). Hantavirus has been detected in wild mice trapped in rural and suburban areas of San Diego County. Although human hantavirus cases are rare in California, the disease can be detected throughout the state and precautions are recommended whenever mice infest structures.
• It’s official: Termites are just cockroaches with a fancy social life. Science News, Mar. 2nd, 2018 (http://bit.ly/2oMchdN). Accumulating genetic evidence has led to termites being categorized into the same order as cockroaches. This is a taxonomic change only, but seems to have generated a surprising amount of public interest, perhaps because cockroaches and termites are both familiar household pests.
• The buzz from your smartphone won’t stop mosquito bites. The Conversation, Mar. 7th, 2018 (http://bit.ly/2IeA92H). Despite the claims of some app developers, mosquito-repelling smartphone apps prove ineffective. Residents are advised to continue using EPA-registered mosquito repellents whenever mosquitoes are biting.
• Don’t go to Brazil without a yellow fever vaccine, CDC warns. NBC News, Mar. 16th, 2018 (http://nbcnews.to/2DFei0G). Brazil’s ongoing yellow fever outbreak prompts the CDC to recommend travelers get vaccinated for yellow fever. Returning travelers infected with yellow fever are a concern in areas with established populations of invasive Aedes mosquitoes, including many areas of California.
###lihttp://bit.ly/2pv8hP5). Genomic research provides clues to why cockroaches are so good at spreading to and surviving in new environments. One theory is that their genes code for hundreds of scent and taste receptors, making them very good at locating food.
• How A Tick Digs Its Hooks Into You. NPR Goats & Soda, Mar. 20th, 2018 (http://n.pr/2Gdj6jc). This article contains a popular Deep Look web episode produced by KQED Science produced in cooperation with California Department of Public Health. This video shows a microscopic view of a tick’s mouthparts.

MANAGER’S REPORT

SUBJECT: State, Agency and District Activities

National

AMCA Washington Days – District Manager Chindi Peavey will attend this event May 14-17.

State

• California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Legislative Day in Sacramento will be held on May 22, 2018.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca... id=201720180AB3037
• AB1778 (Holden) Community Redevelopment Law of 2018 would also authorize diversion of property tax increment away from special districts and other local agencies, but does not include a mechanism for pass through agreements. Information on this bill can be found at
• SB929 (McGuire) Special Districts: Internet Websites will require special Districts to have a website by 2020. As noted in the recent CSDA newsletter, less than half of the 2,000 + special districts in California have websites and this contributes to the public perception that special districts lack transparency. A report by the Little Hoover Commission in 2017 recommended that the Legislature require every district have a website. Our District has a website and that website meets the requirements of the Special Districts Leadership Foundation’s Certificate of Transparency. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill id=201720180SB929
• There is still one trustee who needs to renew their Ethics Training.

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill id=201720180AB1778

District

• One other trustee still needs to complete required Harassment Prevention Training. There will be a live training in Hayward at the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District on April 23 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
• All of the Board members have submitted their Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests on time. Congratulations and thanks to all of you for completing this on time. Appreciation also goes to Office Administrator Devina Walker for coordinating this and following up with each trustee and the County Clerk’s office.
• The District’s annual Open House will be on Thursday, April 26, 2018. This is an opportunity to reach out to our local representatives and educate them about the District’s mission. Megan Sebay has prepared a flyer (attached) for Trustees to bring back to the mayors and city council members of each city. Please be sure to extend invitations to your City elected officials and other members of your local community. The participation of trustees is essential to making this a great event.
• The District has a new Trustee representing the City of San Carlos. Ross Graves was appointed on March 27 and will attend the May Board meeting.
• The Special District Leadership Foundation will offer a 3 day workshop on Governance for Board members in Seaside April 16 through 18 https://members.csda.net/imis1/EventDetail?EventKey=18SDLACON2). Board Members Kati Martin and Wade Leschyn will be attending this event.
• The Governance workshop is offered again July 9 through 11in Napa (https://members.csda.net/imis1/EventDetail?EventKey=18SDLACON3). Please let us know if you are interested in this training.
• Vector Control Technicians Eric Eckstein and David Allen are attending a two-day workshop on using drones for mosquito surveillance and control in Turlock, CA on April 10-11.
• On March 31, District Manager Chindi Peavey and Board Member David Tanner attended the memorial ceremony for former Board Member Richard Tagg who had represented the Town of Woodside for 25 years. Mr. Tagg served on the Board from 1990 to 2015 and made significant contributions to the advancement of the District, serving on the Salary & Budget, Audit, Policy and Strategic Planning committees. He took a keen interest in the District’s mission and increased his city’s understanding of the District in many ways.

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Robert Riechel

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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: San Mateo County CA Mosquito & Vector Control District

Phone: 650-344-8592

Web Site: http://smcmvcd.org/

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