April 17, 2023

Garden Grove, CA – This year has seen one of the wettest periods to date, resulting in standing water across the state. Unfortunately, these conditions are ideal for mosquito development. Stagnant water provides breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, and leading mosquito experts worry this could result in a prolonged and intense mosquito season.

Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) is participating in California Mosquito Awareness Week from April 16 through April 22 to increase awareness of mosquitoes and the diseases they are capable of transmitting and to educate the public about the simple measures they can take to safeguard themselves and their families from mosquito bites.

“Our goal for California Mosquito Awareness Week is to make it easy for people to take action against mosquitoes,” says Heather Hyland, OCMVCD Director of Communications. "We believe that by providing simple, straightforward tips and resources, we can help prevent the spread of these diseases and protect our communities."

During California Mosquito Awareness Week, OCMVCD will feature daily tips and educational content shared across multiple platforms. Additionally, there will be interactive posts and a character-naming giveaway to participate in.

Everyone can help prevent mosquito bites:

  • Apply insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 to clothes and exposed skin according to the label instructions.
  • Dress in long sleeves and pants, especially if outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus are most active.
  • Install screens on windows and doors and keep them in good repair to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
  • Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including flowerpots, old tires, buckets, pet dishes, and trash cans. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in very small amounts of standing water.
  • Repair leaking faucets and broken sprinklers that can contribute to standing water around your home.
  • Clean rain gutters clogged with leaves.
  • Report neglected swimming pools and day-biting mosquitoes.

OCMVCD encourages residents to sign up to receive mosquito alerts. For more information, visit www.ocvector.org or ggcity.org/west-nile-virus.