Mayor Pulido to discuss mosquito spraying plans with city officials and Vector Control

Mayor Pulido to meet with city officials to discuss the OC Vector Control District’s spraying plan

By Mayor Miguel Pulido

SANTA ANA – Mayor Miguel Pulido will be meeting on Monday morning with Santa Ana city officials, including the City Manager, David Cavazos, to discuss the proposed spraying of an insecticide in Santa Ana’s neighborhoods by the Orange County Vector Control District.  The intent of the spraying program is to kill mosquitoes so as to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus transmission in Orange County.

Mayor Pulido is concerned about the short public notice about the spraying as the press release announcing the spraying was distributed last Friday and the Vector Control District was planning to start spraying as early as this Monday, September 8, 2014.

The spraying has since been called off temporarily due to unfavorable weather, as disclosed in an updated press release.

Santa Ana residents have come down with 26 cases of the West Nile Virus.  For comparison’s sake 12 residents of Anaheim have come down with the West Nile Virus.  Click here to see the latest updates on Orange County West Nile Virus cases.

County officials have been particularly alarmed by the amount of mosquitoes infected with the virus this year. On average, 10% to 20% of the mosquito samples collected in Orange County test positive for West Nile. This year, the rate has reached 80%, according to the Los Angeles Times.

There are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent WNV infection. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms. Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Orange County Vector Control District has made the following recommendations to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes:

• Eliminate any standing water around your house.
• Avoid runoff from overwatering lawns and washing vehicles.
• Make sure all of the window and door screens on your house are in good repair.
• Wear a repellent containing DEET®, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR 3535.
• Contact the Orange County Vector Control District to report biting mosquitoes, dead birds or neglected pools.
• Click here for more information.

Mayor Pulido will ask the Vector Control District for details regarding why they are proposing to spray certain neighborhoods in Santa Ana, and he will ask them to improve their communications with the public.

If they do end up spraying residents are asked to:

• Stay indoors during the treatment and for 30 minutes afterwards
• Close doors and windows and shut down non recirculating air conditioners during treatment and for 30 minutes after treatment
• Cover outdoor fishponds, pet food, and water bowls prior to the application

The spraying cannot be done unless their are fairly breezy conditions.  Click here for more information about the insecticides used to kill mosquitoes.  Click here for FAQ on mosquito control.

If you have any questions please email Mayor Pulido here.  Or call him at 714-647-6900.

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Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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