SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Mosquito season is officially here, and San Diego County health officials are asking all San Diegans to dump any standing water around their homes.
Health experts say West Nile virus still remains a threat in San Diego. Although, only one dead bird has tested positive for West Nile so far this year.
County Supervisor Greg Cox and County Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten kicked off the county’s “Prevent, Protect, Report” mosquito-prevention campaign Tuesday.
They say invasive mosquitoes also exist in San Diego and they can potentially transmit tropical diseases if visitors return home ill after travels, like the Zika virus.
“We still don't know yet what the cycle will be like for that,” said county vector ecologist Chris Conlan. “There still will probably be occasional returning infected travelers and that's something we have to be on the lookout for.”
Wooten said only one person in the county tested positive for West Nile last year, and fortunately, that person survived.
Experts predict this will be a busy mosquito season after the wet winter. With warmer temperatures now, mosquito season will be in full swing soon.
County Vector Control crews will drop granular larvicide in large bodies of water around San Diego to kill off mosquito larvae every few weeks.
Officials are asking all residents to do their part as well by dumping standing water outside of homes, wearing mosquito repellent and reporting dead birds or green pools.
"The bottom line is, if it can hold water for more than a week, it's a potential breeding source for mosquitoes," said Conlan.
San Diegans can download the Tell Us Now mobile app to report dead birds or green pools.
