County to Spray Nestor Area for Zika Virus

NESTOR, CA -- San Diego County Vector Control crews plan to hand-spray a neighborhood in Nestor on Nov. 23 to keep invasive Aedes mosquitoes from potentially spreading the Zika virus after mosquitoes were found near a person who contracted Zika outside the U.S.

County crews went through the neighborhood Nov. 21, going door-to-door to notify people about the hand-spraying and to teach them how to keep mosquitoes from breeding inside and outside their homes.

County crews plan to hand-spray the area Wednesday, weather permitting.

The neighborhood is about nine acres in size, south of the Interstate 5-State Route 905 interchange and includes residences on Pikake Street, Deep Haven Lane, Lawndale Street and Quadra Avenue.

It will be the 10th neighborhood County Vector Control has had to hand-spray this year to protect the public health.

Two types of invasive Aedes mosquitoes that have been found in San Diego County can spread tropical diseases, including Zika, chikungunya and dengue, but only if they first bite an infected person. To date, no invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been found in San Diego County or California carrying any diseases.

County officials said even though the region is heading into winter months, people should continue to protect themselves from mosquitoes and take simple steps to keep them from breeding inside and outside their homes — mainly, finding and dumping out standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

The invasive Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit tropical diseases are particularly known for preferring to live and breed in urban areas next to people — in backyards, and even inside homes. They differ from the county’s native Culex mosquitoes — which can transmit West Nile virus if they first bite infected birds or animals.

County technicians will use ultra-low-volume backpack sprayers to apply Pyrenone 25-5, a pesticide approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency. The product is made from chrysanthemums, poses low risks to people and pets and dissipates in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. However, the County is instructing residents in spray areas that they can avoid or minimize their exposure to the pesticide by taking simple steps:

• Stay inside and bring pets indoors if possible
• Close doors and windows, and turn off fans that bring outdoor air inside the home
• Cover ornamental fishponds to avoid direct exposure
• Rinse fruits and vegetables from your garden with water before cooking or eating
• Wipe down or cover outdoor items such as toys and cover barbecue grills
• Beekeepers and those with insects kept outdoors are encouraged to shelter hives and habitats during treatments. Beekeepers are required to register their apiaries with the County’s Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures to receive advance notice of when a pesticide that may affect bees is applied to blossoming plants in their areas.
• Wait until 30 minutes after the treatment before resuming normal activities.

More information about how the County works to trap and test invasive Aedes mosquitoes is available in the video below.

Area map courtesy of County of San Diego