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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Orange County Vector Control District

OC Vector Control will be spraying chemicals in Santa Ana on Sep. 26 and 27

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A Message from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD):

Based on mosquito trapping counts collected on September 18 and 20, OCMVCD staff has identified high mosquito abundance and West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in areas of Santa Ana and Orange. The District’s current treatment criteria states that adult mosquito control is initiated when 75 or more female mosquitoes are identified in a mosquito trap per trap night or when mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus, and all the areas have met one or both of this criteria.

The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) will be conducting adult mosquito control applications via backpack and truck on the dates and times indicated below. Continue reading→

The O.C. Vector Control District will be spraying chemicals in Santa Ana this week

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A Message from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD):

Based on mosquito trapping counts collected on September 5 and 7, OCMVCD staff has identified high mosquito abundance in areas of Huntington Beach, La Habra, Orange and Santa Ana. The District’s current treatment criteria states that adult mosquito control is initiated when 75 or more female mosquitoes are identified in a mosquito trap per trap night, and all the areas have exceeded the threshold. Continue reading→

The O.C. Vector Control District will be spraying chemicals in Santa Ana again this week

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The Orange County Vector Control District will be backpack spraying chemicals in Santa Ana again this Tuesday, August 21 and Wednesday, August 22, 2018, from approximately 4:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., at 21st and the Alona Catch Basins.

The chemical that will be sprayed will be DeltaGard®. Continue reading→

What we now know about the chemical sprayed in Santa Ana by the O.C. Vector Control District this week

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The Orange County Vector Control District is now saying that they did not conduct any aerial spraying of any chemicals in Santa Ana and surrounding cities yesterday. Well we never said they did! We pointed to their own Facebook page and website where they admitted to backpack spraying.

The OC Vector Control District is also claiming that the chemicals they used are water-based and odorless. Continue reading→

Santa Ana got sprayed with chemicals with zero advance warning

Posted on by Posted in Cecilia Aguinaga, Disease, Environment, Orange County Vector Control District, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Did you smell something awful in Santa Ana this evening? Turns out we got sprayed with poisonous chemicals with no advance notice – and we paid for it.

The Orange County Vector Control District admitted on their Facebook page that they conducted adult mosquito control applications via truck or backpack today in Huntington Beach, La Habra, Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange and Santa Ana. Notice that they did not spray any of the wealthy cities in south Orange County. Continue reading→

The first case of West Nile virus infection in Orange County has been reported, in Tustin

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County of Orange Reports First Human West Nile Virus Infection of 2018

(Santa Ana, CA) – A Tustin woman in her 70s was diagnosed this week with West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis. She is the first human WNV infection identified in Orange County, California this season.

In 2017, there were 38 reported human infections of WNV and 4 WNV-related deaths reported in Orange County. Most people who become infected with WNV do not experience symptoms, but about 20% will develop fever and may have headache, body aches, nausea, tiredness and sometimes a skin rash. More serious symptoms, such as severe headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness or paralysis, occur more rarely, but people who develop these symptoms should seek medical care immediately. People over 50 years of age and those with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of serious complications from WNV infection. Continue reading→

The West Nile virus has been detected in Orange County for the first time this year

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Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District

For Immediate Release: Monday, July 9, 2018

First Indication of West Nile Virus Activity in Orange County for 2018

Garden Grove, CA. The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) has confirmed the first mosquito sample to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in 2018. The mosquitoes were collected from the city of Garden Grove, near Garden Grove Blvd. and Newhope St. on July 3, 2018.

“Although we are hoping that this is going to be a mild season for West Nile virus, it is still critical that residents take the necessary precautions to avoid mosquitoes and mosquito bites.” said Robert Cummings, OCMVCD’s Director of Scientific Technical Services. Continue reading→

Invasive tiger mosquitoes have increased by 330% in Orange County this year

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Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District

Invasive Aedes Mosquitoes Increase in Numbers as they Spread Across Orange County

Garden Grove, CA. The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) has seen a significant increase in the presence of the invasive Aedes mosquitoes within Orange County. The mosquito species Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) are not native to the county and are capable of transmitting debilitating viruses including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika. While these viruses are not currently transmitted locally, transmission could begin if someone infected abroad returns to Orange County and is bitten by the invasive mosquito. Vector Control officials are urging residents to take the necessary precautions to reduce mosquito breeding and to avoid bites from these aggressive day-biting mosquitoes.

The District’s surveillance and increased calls from residents confirm that in 2017, the presence of the invasive Aedes mosquitoes has increased in acreage by 330% within Orange County since last year. Continue reading→

The West Nile Virus has popped up again in Orange County

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City of Santa Ana

Community: A Message from OCMVCD: Residents Urged to Take Precautions Over Weekend as More West Nile Virus Activity Detected

As the holiday weekend approaches, the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) reminds residents to use mosquito repellent and remove standing water to prevent further spread of West Nile virus (WNV).

Year-to-date, there are 172 WNV-positive mosquito samples in 19 Orange County cities. A total of 23 dead birds have tested positive for WNV this year. Nine confirmed human cases have been reported. Continue reading→

The West Nile Virus is popping up all over Orange County

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City of Santa Ana

Advisory: West Nile virus Update from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District

The number of adult mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in 2016 has more than doubled in the past week, bringing the total to 113 samples collected in 22 Orange County cities (see chart below). The findings are compounded by the announcement of the first human West Nile virus infection by the Orange County Health Care Agency on August 3rd, underscoring the importance of mosquito breeding and bite prevention. Continue reading→

The West Nile Virus is back – but don’t panic!

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The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District issued a panicky press release today as they have confirmed the first mosquito samples infected with West Nile virus (WNV) in the City of Santa Ana for 2016.

The mosquitoes were collected in a mosquito trap at Alona St. & 21st St., and on E. Chestnut Ave. Their teams will be posting the areas this week. They will also be sending crew members to alert residents to the detection of WNV and preventative measures residents can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes and WNV. Continue reading→

First Zika case confirmed in an Orange County resident

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Disease, Health and Medical, Insects, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Public Safety Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: March 10, 2016

Contact: HCA Communications (714) 834-2178

First Zika Case Confirmed in Orange County Resident

(Santa Ana) – Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that an Orange County resident has tested positive for Zika virus. The individual, a Costa Mesa resident, is a male in his 40s who contracted the virus in late January during travel to Central America and presented symptoms in early February. He was not seriously ill and has recovered. The Health Care Agency has contacted the individual to provide counseling to prevent transmission.

Zika is an infectious disease caused by the Zika virus. Most infected people have no symptoms; for the minority that do, symptoms typically include fever, rash, joint pain and/or red eyes. The greatest concern is related to the possible association between Zika infection in pregnant women and microcephaly (abnormally small head and brain) in newborns. Continue reading→

No need to panic over the new mosquito species in Orange County

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Asian Tiger Mosquito

Asian Tiger Mosquito

Orange County Vector control officials are freaking out over reports from Orange County residents about a new invasive species of mosquito, know as the Asian tiger mosquito, at two homes in Los Alamitos and an industrial park in Huntington Beach.

They are also hunting down and killing another non-native and invasive tropical species called the Yellow Fever mosquito, which has turned up in part of Mission Viejo and is now in Garden Grove and Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

The Vector Control District tried to spray toxic chemicals throughout central Orange County a few weeks ago only to be rebuffed because they did not file the right paperwork to be able to spray over Disneyland.  They did this ostensibly to try to stop the common house mosquitoes as they can carry the West Nile Virus.  However there have only been 63 cases of the West Nile Virus in Orange County this year – and only two deaths (both elderly men in their 80’s. Continue reading→

Orange County’s first West Nile Virus fatality this year reported in Buena Park

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West Nile Virus

For Immediate Release: September 22, 2015

Contact: Deanne Thompson, dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

ORANGE COUNTY REPORTS WEST NILE VIRUS RELATED FATALITY

West Nile Virus Activity throughout the County is Increasing

(Santa Ana) – An 80 year-old Buena Park resident died last week with complications of West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Test results received this week confirmed the diagnosis. This is the first human death associated with WNV infection for this year’s season in Orange County.

““West Nile virus activity tends to peak in August and September in Orange County, but we continue to have cases occur throughout the fall,” said Dr. Eric G. Handler, County Health Officer. “Individuals can take precautionary measures to limit exposure to the West Nile virus. It is important for people to remember that the end of summer does not mean the end of West Nile virus season.” Continue reading→

It is time to take down the Orange County Vector Control District

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Politics, Santa Ana 8 Comments

OC Vector Control District Hacks

Just some of the hacks who serve on the Orange County Vector Control District’s Board of Trustees

From the OC Politics Blog

Is it time to fold the Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) into the Orange County Health Care Agency?  The OCVCD got caught this week trying to spray insecticides in several inner city neighborhoods of Santa Ana, after sending out a last minute press release last Friday about spraying that was at the time to take place on Monday.

I wrote a series of posts over at my New Santa Ana blog that exploded on Facebook, generating over 60,000 views and thousands of calls and emails to the many local politicians whose contact information appeared in my posts.  By Monday the OCVCD was waving the white flag.  They “suspended” the spraying due to the weather but the reality is that the backlash I generated, which I ended up calling “Mosquito Gate” made the spraying a total no-go.

Residents said they were unaware of the spraying and reacted online, with some calling the procedure a “toxic spray down.” Some residents questioned why only specific neighborhoods were targeted. Others who work in the early hours expressed concern of health effects associated with the scheduled early-morning spraying, according to the OC Register. Continue reading→