Article Source: San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District
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On May 1st, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report on mosquito-, tick-, and flea-borne disease in the US. They concluded that human cases of these diseases had tripled between 2004 and 2016, with nine new tick- and mosquito-borne diseases appearing during this time. Vector populations are spreading to areas previously not affected - for example, the arrival of invasive Aedes mosquitoes in California - and people are travelling internationally more frequently than ever.
More alarming, the CDC warns that the US is not prepared for the rising threat of vector-borne disease. This is especially true in areas where local vector control programs are non-existent or poorly funded. Fortunately, most counties in California are covered by excellent vector control programs that reduce the risk of vector-borne disease for their residents and visitors. These locally-funded programs work closely with the California Department of Public Health and CDC.
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Here in San Mateo County, we're working hard to prepare for these challenges. For example, the District routinely works with the California Department of Public Health to conduct surveillance for rodent-borne hantavirus, and has received funding from the CDC for invasive Aedes mosquito surveillance. We can't always know what will happen in the future, but we'll continue to do our best to anticipate and respond to the threat of vector-borne disease in our county.
Mystery Bites? It Could Be Mites
Whether by ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, or something else, a feeling being 'eaten alive' is disturbing. When the cause of the bites isn't readily apparent, it's even worse. Here at the District, 'mystery bites' are a fairly common problem, and our technicians have learned to ask detailed questions to help identify the culprit.
When residents report that they're being bitten by something they can't see, one of our first suspects is mites (rat mite shown above). Mites aren't actually invisible, but they're so small they can seem that way sometimes. Biting mites are usually associated with rodent infestations or birds nesting in the eaves of the home.
If you think mites 'might' be your problem, try using a sticky trap to collect a sample. District staff can confirm whether any mites are present, and give advice on getting the situation under control. If you continue to experience bites without finding any mites or other pests, however, you should consider other possible explanations. A feeling that something is crawling on or biting the skin may be a symptom of a medical issue, including drug interactions, allergic reaction, stress, or a skin condition. You should consult a medical provider before pursuing additional pest control measures. Read more about biting mites.
News
West Nile Virus Update
As of May 25, 2018, there have been 115 dead birds reported in San Mateo County. Of those, 25 have been suitable for testing and two have tested positive (8%) for West Nile virus (WNV). No mosquito pools or sentinel chickens have tested positive for West Nile Virus in San Mateo County in 2018. Read more.
Tick Surveillance Update
During May, laboratory staff collected ticks in the nymph life stage at Laurelwood Park in San Mateo, Wunderlich County Park in Woodside, Thornewood Open Space Preserve near Woodside, Coal Creek Open Space Preserve near Portola Valley, and Water Dog Lake Park in Belmonty. Read more.
Invasive Aedes Mosquito Update
May 13th marked 3 years with no detection of invasive ###emmosquitoes in San Mateo County. However, there is a high risk that these mosquitoes will arrive in our county again in the near future. Residents are asked to continue to watch for and report suspected invasiveAedes mosquito sightings. ###a href="http://www.smcmvcd.org/invasive" target="_blank">Read more.
Our Work by the Numbers
In May, technicians responded to 249 service requests, including 83 reports of mosquitoes, 44 yellowjacket and wasp requests, 53 rodent inspections, and 16 insect identifications. The number of mosquito service requests in May 2018 was considerably lower than the three-year average. This is because there were a very high number of mosquito service requests in May 2017 that resulted from midges emerging from lagoons near the bay. Read more.
Laboratory Updates
The laboratory began yearly surveillance for hantavirus with a rodent survey at San Bruno Mountain on May 2-3. . Deer mice were trapped and blood samples were taken for testing. The mouse carcasses will be tested by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and positive samples will be used for a study of the geographical distribution of different hantavirus strains in California. District laboratory staff and CDPH staff will conduct another rodent survey for hantavirus in early June in La Honda. Read more.
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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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