Sacramento County neighborhood to see sterile mosquito release to fight spread
Officials will begin to release sterile male mosquitoes in Rosemont next week to reduce the spread of Aedes aegypti, a disease-carrying invasive mosquito, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District announced Wednesday.
The Sterile Insect Technique, or SIT, program launched in South Natomas last year to reduce populations of Aedes aegypti. The species, which originated in Africa and continues to spread throughout Sacramento and Yolo counties, can carry dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya, diseases that can be life-threatening to humans. They are not considered vectors for West Nile virus.
Starting Tuesday, Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District officials will release non-biting male mosquitoes that carry Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium, across a designated 120-acre area of Rosemont. The bacterium effectively sterilizes the males, causing eggs produced after they mate with wild female mosquitoes not to hatch, district officials said in a statement.
“Traditional mosquito control remains the foundation of what we do,” District Manager Gary Goodman said in a statement. “The Sterile Insect Technique gives us another tool to help manage invasive mosquitoes and strengthen our ability to protect public health.”
The new program comes as mosquito season, which spans from May through October, remains in full swing.
According to the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, controlling the aegypti species has been especially difficult because the mosquitoes tend to live near humans and reproduce rapidly, laying eggs in water-holding containers often found in backyards and around homes. Conventional control methods, including surveillance, mosquito control, source reduction and public outreach, have been less effective.
District officials will be on-site in Rosemont every week to release the sterile male mosquitoes and set mosquito traps as the program begins. While residents do not need to change their daily routines, Goodman encouraged them to eliminate standing water around their homes and wear insect repellent when spending time outdoors.
Existing mosquito control efforts will also continue alongside the SIT program.
How can I protect myself from mosquito bites?
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District recommends the “seven Ds of mosquito prevention” to limit the risk of mosquito bites:
- Drain any standing water that may serve as mosquito breeding sites.
- Dawn and dusk are when mosquitoes are most active, and times to avoid being outdoors.
- Dress appropriately by wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
- Defend yourself from mosquitoes by using and correctly applying effective insect repellent, like DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
- Door and window screens should be kept in good working condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
- District personnel are who to go to in case you face any mosquito personnel at 800-429-1022 or visit FightTheBite.net.
