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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County
Department of Health Services, Public Health encourages
residents to reduce their risk of mosquito-borne disease by
eliminating breeding sources around their homes and taking
other precautions.
“Although mosquitoes breed throughout the year in
Southern California, the potential for disease transmission
increases as the weather gets warmer,” said Frank Hall,
Ph.D., chief of the county’s Vector Management Program.
Infected female mosquitoes can transmit St. Louis
Encephalitis virus (SLE) to humans. Most SLE infections in
humans are mild, producing only headache and fever. In
severe cases – especially in the elderly – the virus
infects the brain, causing confusion, paralysis, coma and
even death. The only way for humans to acquire the disease
is through the bite of an infected mosquito that has
previously bitten a bird that carries the virus. SLE cannot
be transmitted directly from person to person or from birds
to people.
“Because mosquito breeding requires a water source,
residents can reduce breeding by eliminating standing water
around their yard,” said Hall. “Buckets, planters, old
tires and other containers accumulate rain and landscape
water and should be drained as soon as possible. These are
perfect breeding sites for mosquitoes.”
Property owners should maintain ponds and pools with
adequate filtration and chemical additives. Residents who
know of a pool that is not receiving regular maintenance
should report it to their local mosquito/vector control
district office. These offices can also provide fish that
thrive on mosquito larvae for use in residential ornamental
ponds.
Property owners should install and maintain window and
door screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.
Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and in the evening.
Residents can protect themselves by avoiding
mosquito-infested areas that may develop in heavily wooded
areas near natural water sources like rivers, lakes and
marshes. Residents visiting these areas during mosquito
season should use insect repellent and wear protective
clothing such as long pants and long-sleeved shirts with
high collars.
Surveillance Activities for Mosquito-borne
Active surveillance for mosquito-borne encephalitis is
conducted throughout the county from May through October by
mosquito and vector control district offices. Flocks of
chickens are placed in various areas of the county; blood
from these chickens is tested routinely for evidence of
infection with SLE, Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) and
West Nile virus (WNV). Evidence of infection with SLE virus
has been found in chickens yearly from 1984 through 1998.
Mosquitoes from various sites in the county are also tested
for the presence of SLE, WEE and WNV. SLE virus has been
found in mosquitoes sporadically since 1984.
Although there is no evidence that WNV has spread to the
West Coast, the health department will test for the virus if
warranted by a physician.
“Physicians treating patients for encephalitis are
required to report the cases to the health department,”
said Roshan Reporter, M.D., M.P.H., on the Acute
Communicable Disease Control Unit. “The health department
can also test for SLE and Western Equine Encephalitis at the
physician’s request. The most recent death of a county
resident from a confirmed case of SLE was in 1999; there
were 25 cases between 1984 and 1992 including one death.
For help with mosquito problems, residents may call their
local mosquito/vector control district: Greater LA County
Vector Control District (800) 371-4402, (562) 944-9656, or
(818) 764-2010 LA County West Vector Control District (310)
915-7370 Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District (310)
639-7375 Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control
District (626) 814-9466 DHS’s Vector Management Program
(626) 430-5450
For information regarding human diseases related to
mosquitoes, call the Acute Communicable Disease Control Unit
at (213) 240-7941.
Public Health is committed to protecting and improving
the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles
County. Through a variety of programs, community
partnerships and services, Public Health oversees
environmental health, disease control and community and
family health. Public Health comprises more than 3,800
employees and has an annual budget exceeding $465 million.
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Housing Inspection Bureau