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October 2023

Happy Halloween Champions!

We hope you enjoy scary celebrations today that don’t involve mosquito bites. Also, if you’re expecting trick-or-treaters tonight, be sure to Tip, Toss, & Protect so your home isn’t the scariest house on the block.

Short Bites Monthly share insight into the past month’s activity. This ensures that our data as a public health agency remains transparent to the public and to people who are interested in our mission.

Events

• This month, repellent education was the focus of our District messaging. We also presented at various senior center community meetings throughout our District. Thank you to those who requested our presence.
• We provided Bite Prevention Kits to select cities which is determined by our mosquito trap count data – See data charts below ‘In Disease Control & Monitoring’ section.

Outreach Efforts

Image of our outreach efforts this month.

• This month, we have responded to elevated mosquito activity with enhanced investigation and control measures. The areas of Enhanced Neighborhood Support (ENS) are based on our mosquito trap count data and neighborhood risk assessment.

Image of a Technician posting a Treatment Notification sign in treatment area.

• Our October efforts include increased surveillance, public education, and control to reduce the threat of mosquito-borne disease human infections.

Image of Vector Control Specialists controling mosquito populations from mosquito trap data that is monitored weekly.

EcoHealth Newsletter

• EcoHealth Newsletter informs you of professional development opportunities, FREE available NGSS- aligned programs, & the latest teacher resources for you to use in the classroom.
• The EcoHealth Newsletter will resume in November.

Citizen Science

Image of Education Specialist analyzing students’ Aedes mosquito egg paper submissions.

• At headquarters, we’re analyzing collected water samples and Aedes egg papers, as seen in the phot above.
• Thank you to participating teachers and students who submited these samples! Our District is grateful for your participation in community science.

Microscopic image of a student’s water sample that contains a male mosquito (left insect) and a termite (right insect).

Digital Communication

• If you’re planning on trick-or-treating this Halloween, don’t forget to wear repellent. See our repellent page for more information.

• Since West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic to the San Gabriel Valley, we work hard to prevent local disease outbreaks.
• This month, we used targeted ads to spread awareness about mosquito activity in communities that needed treatments.

Image of Outreach Assistant preparing team for Treatment Notification posting.

• Our messaging, whether in print or online, is up to date on the latest mosquito information. You can access them here.

Image of Communications Specialist creating social media content for targeted ads.

We continue to focus on maintaining essential vector surveillance including mosquito trap routes, arbovirus testing, providing weekly data to the District, and maintaining the mosquito fish and mosquito colonies.

Image of a Vector Control Specialist organizing mosquito trap findings.

Data Collection

Image of average mosquitoes per trap by sampling location and by city/community. The size of the bubbles on the map reflects the relative numbers of mosquitoes caught at each trap.

This chart depicts the overall abundance of mosquitoes collected during the current reporting period. Species listed on the far right are sorted by total amount collected during this reporting period.

This chart depicts the total number/types of traps set during this reporting period.

• This month, our surveillance traps have seen an overall increase of Aedes abundance across the district. In response to this data, we added 11 additional trapping events to monitor.

Before you go, check out the links we love this month …

Know a Future Entomologist? Read & Share This.

• Read how a life-long interest in wildlife brought one entomologist to vector-borne disease ecology.

Vector Control Saves the Day in Your Community!

• Learn how your local Vector Control District responded to a rare mosquito-borne disease case.

Girl Scouts: Climate Challenge & Tree Promise Opportunities

• Help your Girl Scout protect the planet from the effects of climate change by planting, protecting, and honoring trees to support wildlife conservation. Girl Scouts can also become climate advocates and help protect the Earth!

The Bite Back Program is an outreach program by the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District. This is a grassroots, neighborhood-level approach to “build healthier, bite-free neighborhoods in San Gabriel Valley.”

Communications Department Mission Statement: Increase transparency and credibility through multi-media dialogue in order to engage and motivate internal, local, regional, statewide, and nationwide stakeholders to take action and become public health agents of change in their communities.

District Mission: Providing the highest level of protection from vectors & vector-borne diseases in San Gabriel Valley.