The County of San Diego will take to the airwaves in April to ask for the public’s help in preventing mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as Zika and West Nike Virus. People can “Fight the Bite”—and the invasive Aedes mosquitos that carry these diseases—by dumping or cleaning standing water in and around homes at least once a week so that mosquitos don’t have a place to breed.

Although peak mosquito season in San Diego County usually occurs from late August through October, it will start early this year after the dry winter, and residents are encouraged to start dumping water now.  Hot and dry weather helps mosquitos breed quickly; a mosquito can grow from larva to a breeding adult in less than a week. Cooler temperatures prompt mosquitoes to go into hibernation mode, but this year they have been able to breed all year round.

Unlike native mosquito species, invasive Aedes mosquitoes prefer to live and breed as close to humans as possible, in yards and even inside homes.  

“Not all mosquitos are created equal,” said Nikos Gurfield, County Veterinarian at the San Diego County Vector Control Program. “Aedes Aegypti carry very serious diseases and its favorite food is people. It loves people.”

Aedes mosquitoes stay close to home, come out during the day and can reproduce in very small amounts of water, even in a bottle cap. Water from rain or sprinklers can collect in all kinds of items, including plant saucers, rain gutters, rain barrels, buckets, garbage cans, old tires and more. For larger water sources, the Vector Control Program gives out mosquito fish for free that can be used to control mosquito breeding in water sources like unused swimming pools, ponds, fountains and horse troughs.

Nikos works with his team to reduce the occurrences of vector-borne diseases from not just mosquitos, but also rats, ticks, squirrels and more.  The Vector Control Team utilizes tools and strategies to maximize direct impact while limiting the effect on the environment. Techs are regularly in the field, collecting data on what types of and how many vectors are out there. Vectors are then brought back to the County Diagnostics Lab, a nationwide leader for the testing of vector-borne disease and training others in the latest techniques.

The team also focuses on control methods and education. Residents and organizations like the Girl Scouts, teen groups, and neighborhood recycling programs are instrumental in helping get the word out.  “Partners are key,” said Nikos. “Fight the Bite won’t succeed unless communities and neighborhoods mobilize and get rid of breeding grounds.”

Nikos and his team are vital to protecting residents against an increasing risk of vector-borne diseases.  “We are out here to protect public health and safeguard the environment in a very real way," he said. "Now, more than ever, given what’s happening with climate change, vector borne diseases are increasing and they are predicted to continue increasing.” It is important to work together to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, but also to address sustainability.

For more information on how to prevent mosquito breeding, visit SDFighttheBite.com.