Vector Control to Hand Spray Escondido Neighborhood Over Zika Concerns

ESCONDIDO, CA -- San Diego County Vector Control crews plan to hand-spray an Escondido neighborhood this week to kill invasive Aedes mosquitoes and prevent them from potentially spreading the Zika virus after finding them near a person who contracted Zika outside the country.

County crews went door-to-door in the area Nov. 8 to notify residents in person, leave door hangers and show people how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding inside and outside their homes.

Vector Control plans to hand-spray the area Nov. 10, weather permitting.

This marks the eighth neighborhood that Vector Control has had to hand-spray this year to protect the public health.

The area to be hand-sprayed is roughly 17 acres in size, includes 109 units and is bordered on by Rimrock Drive on the north and East El Norte Parkway on the south.

Trained County technicians will use ultra-low-volume backpack sprayers to apply Pyrnone 25-5, a pesticide approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency. The product, which is made from chrysanthemums, poses low risks to people and pets and dissipates in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. However, the County is instructing residents in spray areas that they can avoid or minimize their exposure to the pesticide by taking some simple steps:

• Stay inside and bring pets indoors if possible
• Close doors and windows, and turn off fans that bring outdoor air inside the home
• Cover ornamental fishponds to avoid direct exposure
• Rinse fruits and vegetables from your garden with water before cooking or eating
• Wipe down or cover outdoor items such as toys and cover barbecue grills
• Beekeepers and those with insects kept outdoors are encouraged to shelter hives and habitats during treatments.

People may resume normal activities 30 minutes after the treatment.

More information about mosquito-borne illnesses is available on San Diego County’s “Fight the Bite” website. Also, more information about how the County works to trap and test invasive mosquitoes can be seen in the video below.

Image courtesy of the County of San Diego