Vector Control District Celebrates Seven Decades of Working to Rid the County of Mosquitos

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of providing public health service, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (District) will host an open house at its Santa Fe Springs Headquarters on Saturday, April 16th from 10am to 2pm. For seven decades, the District has protected cities and communities from mosquito-borne diseases through surveillance, mosquito control, and public health education.

The free event is open to the public and will have food, music, activities for the whole family, and giveaways. The open house celebration is an opportunity for cities, elected officials, community partners, and residents to meet staff, learn about mosquito control, and explore the District's facilities.

"We invite residents and community partners to the District's 70th Anniversary Open House to celebrate this milestone and discover the agency's contributions to public health over the decades," said Mary-Joy Coburn, director of communications." We are more than just a mosquito control service, but a resource and community partner that is committed to protecting and empowering our residents against mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases."

Additionally, the District will be organizing more events throughout the year, contests, and giveaways to promote the 70th anniversary celebration:

• 'Through My Lens Photo Contest' invites residents to submit an original photo for a chance to be featured in the 2023 District calendar. This contest is open to all residents and will have multiple categories for a chance to win prizes. Visit GLAmosquito.org for more information on categories, prizes, and deadlines.

• Later this year, the District will launch a Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest to engage the youth and work with the community to promote mosquito prevention and disease reduction.

• Future open house events are planned for South Gate, the city that was home to the District's first facility, and the San Fernando Valley, near the northern branch facility.

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West Nile Virus in Los Angeles County

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease that affects residents in Los Angeles County. Public health agencies detect West Nile virus every year in L.A. County which means it's endemic and found naturally in our city environments.

The agency reports data related to mosquitoes. Human cases are reported by the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

The disease surveillance program serves as an early warning system in the detection of mosquito-borne viruses that can infect people and animals.

The District uses the following factors to assess health risk in your community:

Higher-than-average daily temperatures

Mosquito Population Monitoring – Using traps set up in every community

Mosquito Testing for Diseases

Dead Birds – A CA state program: Dead birds help determine spread of West Nile virus

Sentinel Chickens – Chickens develop antibodies to West Nile virus, which can be detected by testing.

Using these measurements, the District is able to protect your health by responding appropriately to mosquito-borne disease threats.

Residents are invited to join the celebration, contests, and future events by following the District's social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or by visiting bit.ly/70years-GLAmosquito.

For more information, residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656, online at http://www.GLAmosquito.org.

Statistics for 2021

2021 WNV+ Mosquito Samples

City/Community Date of First Detection # of Positive Samples

Artesia 7/27/2021 2

Bellflower 7/13/2021 5

Canoga Park 8/25/2021 2

Cerritos 7/27/2021 5

Diamond Bar 10/5/2021 1

Downey 8/10/2021 1

Downtown LA 8/13/2021 1

Elysian Valley 7/22/2021 2

Glendale 9/2/2021 1

Hacienda Heights 8/4/2021 4

Hawaiian Gardens 9/29/2021 1

Highland Park 9/2/2021 3

Lakewood 9/15/2021 1

La Mirada 8/26/2021 2

Long Beach 8/25/2021 3

Mission Hills 8/13/2021 1

Norwalk 8/12/2021 4

Paramount 8/24/2021 1

San Marino 8/17/2021 1

Santa Clarita 8/20/2021 1

Santa Fe Springs 8/26/2021 2

Silver Lake 9/9/2021 1

South El Monte 8/4/2021 4

South Whittier 9/15/2021 1

Studio City 7/15/2021 2

Tarzana 7/13/2021 2

Valley Glen 8/12/2021 1

Valley Village 7/28/2021 3

Van Nuys 8/18/2021 3

Whittier 8/18/2021 2

Winnetka 8/25/2021 1

Woodland Hills 8/11/2021 4

Total # of Positive Mosquito Samples This Year 68

2021 WNV+ Dead Birds

City/Community Date of First Detection Positives

Cerritos 7/27/2021 3

Lakewood 8/19/2021 1

Long Beach 7/13/2021 2

L:os Feliz 9/22/2021 1

Norwalk 9/7/2021 1

Santa Clarita 9/23/2021 1

Silver Lake 9/8/2021 1

Valley Village 7/7/2021 1

Total # of Positive Dead Birds this Year 11

2020 West Nile Virus Statistics