Based on a verified dengue case, County Vector Control teams intend to hand-spray 60 residences and a community center in Oceanside to prevent mosquitoes from transmitting the dengue virus and safeguard public health.
If the weather cooperates, county workers want to hand-spray the region on Tuesday. Visit Vector Control’s mosquito treatment homepage for further details on the program. A comparable intervention was carried out in July of this year to support public health and stop possible local dengue spread in the San Diego neighborhood of Mount Hope.
Using ultra-low-volume backpack sprayers, trained County workers will apply AquaDuet, a pesticide that has been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency, to kill adult mosquitoes that can carry disease.
County employees made contact with individuals and left doorhangers at homes in the treatment area over the weekend. The utilized product dissipates in around 20 to 30 minutes and has low danger for humans and pets. Nonetheless, the County is advising locals living in spray zones to take the following easy actions to prevent or reduce their exposure to the pesticide:
- If you can, stay inside and bring your pets inside.
- Shut windows and doors, and turn off fans that let outside air into the house.
- Any pet food and water dishes left outside during the treatment should be cleaned.
- Fishpond covers help prevent direct exposure.
- Before cooking or eating, rinse fruits and vegetables from your garden with water as usual.
- Toys and barbecues are examples of outdoor goods that should be cleaned or covered.
- It is advised that hives and habitats be covered during treatments for beekeepers and individuals who maintain insects outside. Beekeepers who are registered with the County’s Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures may ask to be notified in advance when a pesticide that could harm bees is sprayed on nearby blooming plants.
- After the treatment, you can get back to your regular activities in thirty minutes.
Dengue
Tropical viral diseases like dengue are uncommon in the contiguous United States. Dengue has not been locally acquired since the invasive Aedes mosquitoes were discovered in San Diego County in 2014.
When traveling to nations where dengue is prevalent, Americans may contract the disease. Every year, San Diego County reports cases of dengue infections among tourists. Between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024, 17 cases of dengue connected to travel have been reported among inhabitants of San Diego County. County Public Health and Vector Control collaborate closely to address positive case identification in order to stop mosquitoes from dispersing the disease.
Mosquitoes transmit dengue when they bite an infected person and subsequently bite someone else.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that dengue cannot be treated with specific medications. Fever, chills, and any of the following symptoms—such as aches and pains in the muscles, joints, or bones—as well as nausea, vomiting, and rash are the most typical ones.
Moderate symptoms can linger for two to seven days. Most folks heal in a week or so. But symptoms can sometimes worsen, even become fatal, and necessitate hospitalization if they include shock and respiratory distress.
Blood testing can be used to diagnose dengue.
The best defense against dengue, according to the CDC, is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes
Day-biting Ankle-biters, or Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, are the main source of dengue transmission. These mosquitoes prefer to reside and spawn in yards and small bodies of water close to people.
Finding and eliminating any standing water in and around homes is the best defense people can take to prevent them from ever reproducing in the first place.
Prevent Mosquito Breeding
Any objects that can hold water, such as plant saucers, rain barrels, buckets, trash cans, old tires, and wheelbarrows, should be emptied, drained, or removed from residences. Free mosquitofish can be used to prevent mosquitoes from growing in backyard standing water sources, such as neglected ponds, swimming pools, horse troughs, and fountains. These fish can be found at various locations across the county.
Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites
When you’re outside, use insect repellent or wear long sleeves and pants to protect yourself against diseases spread by mosquitoes. Use insect repellent using components such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 that have been approved by the EPA. To keep insects away, make sure the screens on windows and doors are secure and in good working order.
