County To Drop Mosquito Larvicide On Waterways In Escondido

ESCONDIDO, CA — San Diego County is scheduled to conduct the first routine aerial larvicide drop of the year next week to help stop mosquitoes from potentially spreading diseases such as West Nile virus.

County officials said helicopter larvicide drops will take place Wednesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 25, if necessary, to cover nearly 1,400 acres of hard-to-reach potential mosquito breeding areas across the region. The treatment locations include up to 52 local waterways in the 4S Ranch area, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Oceanside, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, Santee and Solana Beach.

The county has used helicopters to drop solid, granular larvicide on hard-to-reach rivers, streams, ponds and other waterways about once a month from April through October since West Nile virus arrived in the early 2000s. The larvicide does not hurt people or pets but kills mosquito larvae before they can grow into biting mosquitoes.

West Nile virus is mainly a bird disease. However, mosquitoes can pass the potentially deadly virus on to people by feeding on infected birds and then biting people.

The impact of the virus has been relatively mild in the county in the past few years. Three or fewer people have tested positive annually since 2017. County officials warned that the virus can still be dangerous, and people should avoid mosquitoes.

Vector Control Program officials reminded residents to find and dump out standing water in and around homes to keep the pests from breeding and biting people. Residents can obtain mosquito fish from the county for free to control mosquito breeding in backyard water sources such as unmaintained swimming pools, ponds, fountains and horse troughs.

Officials recommended residents protect themselves from mosquito-borne illnesses by wearing long sleeves and pants or using insect repellent when outdoors. Insect repellent should contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535.

Report increased mosquito activity, or stagnant, unmaintained swimming pools and other mosquito-breeding sources, as well as dead birds, to the Vector Control Program at 858-694-2888 or [email protected].