How To Take The Bite Out Of Mosquito Season

As overnight temperatures rise, Culex mosquitoes begin to hatch. They can carry the West Nile virus, which infected more than 420 people in California last year, killing 19 of them.

Another kind of mosquito is being tested for dengue virus after two people in Los Angeles County contracted the virus last fall, the first locally acquired cases in California. Both people survived.

There’s no local dengue now, but experts say the virus is likely to crop up again and the pesticides used to kill mosquitoes that can spread it have lost some of their bite.

That’s because overuse of over-the counter herbicides can cause the insects to become resistant to the chemicals, said Tristan Hallam, director of scientific programs with the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

Some weed killers contain active ingredients similar to pest control sprays, he said.

“Because it’s being used in two separate scenarios on a consistent basis, there are more opportunities for these adult mosquitoes to have that resistance build up within these populations,” Hallam said.

How To Take The Bite Out Of Mosquito Season

Hallum tests local mosquitoes and rotates which pesticides vector control uses when too many show resistance.

The best defense is to prevent mosquito bites, and keep the insects from getting in your home or breeding nearby.

Continue reading the article written by Jackie Fortiér here.

最終更新日

February 11, 2025

執筆者
写真サムネイル ブログ執筆者

ジャッキー・フォルティエ

シニア健康レポーター

南カリフォルニアの健康とロサンゼルス地域の医療業界を担当している。

私がこのニュースルームに入ったのは、パンデミック(世界的大流行)によりほとんどのものが閉鎖される直前だった。例えば、ワクチン展開を取材するために私たちが設定したミッションはこうだ:

私たちは、アンジェレノスの人々がワクチンに関する正確な最新情報を入手し、ワクチン接種のハードルを乗り越え、このパンデミックの反対側までたどり着こうとする私たちの経験を分かち合う手助けをする。

以前はオクラホマとコロラドで公共ラジオに携わっていましたが、カリフォルニアの山とビーチが大好きになりました。私が89.3KPCCのラジオに生出演しているときに耳を澄ますと、私の3匹の猫が登場するのが聞こえるかもしれません。

その他のコンテンツを見る

メディア

Our products are well-loved by the outdoor community, which allows us to be generous with our charity work worldwide.

Russ McLeod
Founder of Mightyhum

メディア

Similarly, whenever I need water, it takes time and effort to collect water from a stream, and then push it through my Sawyer Squeeze filter into my water bottles.

Jared Zornitzer
ハイカー

メディア

Sawyer Mini filters remove 99.9% of bacteria—pair with reusable bottles to minimize plastic waste.

Machu Picchu Getaway
Travel Site