This is the first positive West Nile virus mosquito sample within the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District service area for this year

 Santa Fe Springs, CA (June 1, 2024) – The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD/District) has confirmed a West Nile virus (WNV) positive mosquito sample in Los Angeles County. The positive mosquito sample was collected from a mosquito trap in the community of Winnetka, a neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, confirming the presence of the virus in mosquito populations within the community.

“While the presence of West Nile Virus in our community is not unusual, this early detection serves as a critical reminder for all residents to take preventative actions,” said GLACVCD Director of Scientific-Technical Services Steve Vetrone. “We urge everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to eliminate standing water around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.”

The native Culex mosquito is capable of transmitting West Nile virus and is most active during dusk and dawn. Because there is no human vaccine for West Nile virus, residents must be proactive against mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent. Different kinds of mosquito repellents are available, but they do not all work equally well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends products with the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus as being safe and effective when used according to the labels.

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility, and residents must take an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their neighborhoods by taking these additional steps:

• Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything else that holds water for over a week.
• Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained.
• Change the water in pet dishes, bird baths, and other small containers weekly.
• Request mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds.
• Report neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district.

For an extensive list of common indoor and outdoor sources and recommended solutions, visit bit.ly/diy-mosquito-solutions. For more information, residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656, online at www.GLAmosquito.org, or on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, Nextdoor, and YouTube.

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Media | media@GLAmosquito.org | 562-758-6516

David Pailin, Communications Manager | dpailin@GLAmosquito.org | 562-758-6510