Surveillance

Vector Surveillance

Mosquito abundance in any given area is monitored through routine and strategic mosquito traps that are typically placed from April through October. Every week, 232 mosquito traps, roughly 5 per square mile, are placed at fixed locations in suburban areas. Approximately 40 additional traps are placed as needed to evaluate potential mosquito issues or to narrow down the location of potential sources. Every mosquito caught by these traps is identified by species and counted. 

Surveillance is made possible by District residents. Volunteer trap hosts allow the District to place traps in their yard for either a single night or once a week during the mosquito season. Routine or fixed-location traps are placed at the same location for the duration of the mosquito season while strategic traps may be placed at a different location each time they are set. 

Mosquito traps only catch mosquitoes that are already in the general area of the mosquito trap. While there are many types of traps, Delta Vector Control District uses three main types for their surveillance.

Disease Surveillance

Delta Vector Control District monitors mosquitoes and dead birds for common mosquito-borne diseases that are a seasonal disease risk in our area.  Lab tests are conducted in house, allowing a quick turnaround time from sample collection to test results. Our lab is certified annually through the California Department of Public Health which allows us to contribute to state-wide vector-borne disease surveillance.

Female mosquitoes capable of transmitting West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis Virus, or Western Equine Encephalitis Virus are tested for those viruses when at least 10 are caught in a single trap. Birds are an important part of the transmission cycle for these viruses and may die when they are infected. Dead birds can be tested for these viruses when they have been dead for less than 48 hours and have not died from obvious trauma.

Report dead birds to Delta Vector Control District at 559-732-8606 or by calling through the California Dead Bird Hotline.

Source Surveillance

Mosquito sources are bodies of standing water, large or small, where mosquitoes can lay their eggs and develop into adults. Potential sources such as water holding basins, dairy lagoons, storm basins, and other known sources are regularly monitored and treated when necessary. Other sources that change frequently, such as green swimming pools or flooded areas, are more difficult to locate. A surveillance flight at the beginning of each mosquito season helps to identify these potential sources. 

However, the District needs the help of residents to identify green swimming pools, neglected hot tubs, and other sources through the rest of the season. You can anonymously report green pools, hot tubs, and other potential sources online using the service request form or by calling 559-732-8606 during regular business hours. The District does not charge for services.