April 15, 2024

Garden Grove, Calif. – Heavy rainfall this year has deposited substantial amounts of standing water throughout Orange County. As temperatures rise, stagnant water can become prime breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes – also known as “ankle biters” – are now well-established in Orange County, and experts are concerned that we could face a lengthy and difficult mosquito season.

To increase awareness of mosquitoes and the diseases they can transmit, Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) is participating in California Mosquito Awareness Week, from Sunday, April 14 to Saturday, April 20. The goal is to teach people the easy measures they can take to safeguard themselves and their families from mosquitoes.

“Nobody likes mosquitoes, so California Mosquito Awareness Week is a great time to remind people of how easy it is to prevent them from breeding,” OCMVCD Public Information Officer Brian Brannon said. “By empowering residents with the knowledge of what to look for and what to do, we can help keep our communities safe from the threat of mosquito-borne disease."

During California Mosquito Awareness Week, OCMVCD will share daily tips and educational content on ocvector.org and via social media. Residents can also participate in a social media contest to see who can create the best videos that explain why mosquitoes suck. Prizes will include tickets to the Discovery Cube, the Santa Ana Zoo, and Zoomars.

Here are some ways to prevent mosquito bites:

  • Eliminate all sources of standing water, including water in flowerpots, old tires, buckets, pet dishes, and trash cans.
  • Install screens on doors and windows and keep them in good repair.
  • Repair leaky faucets and broken sprinklers that can create standing water.
  • Clean rain gutters.
  • Report neglected swimming pools.
  • Follow label instructions to apply insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535.
  • Wear long sleeves and pants, especially while outside during dawn and dusk when the mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus are most active.

OCMVCD encourages residents to sign up to receive mosquito alerts. For more information, visit ocvector.org.