San Diego City Wire

San Diego County Vector Control crews plan to hand-spray a neighborhood in the Mt. Hope area this week to prevent mosquitoes from potentially spreading the dengue virus after mosquitoes were found near a person who contracted dengue outside the U.S.

County crews went door-to-door through the neighborhood Wednesday to notify residents about the hand-spraying and to educate them on how to prevent mosquito breeding inside and outside their homes. The spraying is scheduled for Friday, weather permitting.

The treatment area covers approximately 12 acres, bordered by Hilltop Drive to the north, 40th Street to the east, F Street to the south, and Boundary Street to the west within San Diego. More information on the treatment can be found on Vector Control’s mosquito treatment webpage.

Trained County technicians will use ultra-low-volume backpack sprayers to apply AquaDuet, a pesticide approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The product poses low risks to people and pets and dissipates in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. However, residents in spray areas are advised that they can avoid or minimize exposure by taking simple steps.

Dengue is a tropical viral disease not commonly found in the contiguous United States. Since invasive Aedes mosquitoes were first detected in San Diego County in 2014, there have been no locally acquired cases of dengue.

U.S. travelers can contract dengue while visiting countries where it is common. Dengue infections among travelers are reported each year in San Diego County. From January 1 through June 30, 2024, there have been 15 travel-related cases of dengue among San Diego County residents.

Dengue spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person and then feeds on another individual. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are no specific medicines for treating dengue. Common symptoms include fever, chills, aches and pains (eye pain, muscle pain, joint or bone pain), nausea, vomiting, and rash.

Symptoms can be moderate and last two to seven days with most people recovering after about a week. However, severe symptoms can occur which may include shock and respiratory distress requiring hospitalization.

The CDC advises that protection from mosquito bites is crucial for preventing dengue infection.

Day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are primary transmitters of dengue. These mosquitoes prefer living around people often breeding in small amounts of water found in yards.

Residents are encouraged to eliminate standing water inside and outside their homes by dumping out items such as plant saucers, rain gutters, buckets, garbage cans, toys old tires wheelbarrows etc., Mosquitofish available free at various county locations may also help control mosquito breeding in backyard standing water sources like unmaintained swimming pools ponds fountains horse troughs etc.,

To protect against mosquito-borne illnesses wear long sleeves pants or use insect repellent outdoors using EPA-approved ingredients like DEET picaridin oil of lemon eucalyptus IR3535 Ensure window door screens are secured good condition keeping insects out,

For more information visit San Diego County’s “Fight the Bite” website.

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