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CBS News
2 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
Sacramento to release 400,000 sterile mosquitoes to fight off invasive ones
Sacramento aims to fight off invasive mosquitoes by releasing thousands more Sacramento aims to fight off invasive mosquitoes by releasing thousands more Sacramento aims to fight off invasive mosquitoes by releasing thousands more SACRAMENTO — Sacramento is launching a new tactic to stop the spread of invasive mosquitoes that can infect people with Zika and dengue fever. The plan, which was just approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, is to release 400,000 live mosquitoes into the environment. "We need ways to combat these mosquitoes, which are posing a public health threat," said Luz Maria Robles with the Sacramento Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. The swarm will initially be released across 100 acres of Sacramento's south Natomas neighborhood, which has been the biggest breeding ground. To ensure the mosquitoes are safe for the public, only sterile males will be used in the program. "Male mosquitoes do not bite, so while you might see more mosquitoes than usual, we want those males to mate with the wild females because once they do, their eggs will not hatch," Robles said. Fresno's consolidated mosquito district was the first in California to use this technique, and they say data shows it is safe and effective. "We had tremendous success with that program in the areas where we did release," said Jodi Holeman, manager of the Fresno abatement district. "We got in excess of 98% suppression." If successful in south Natomas, releases could occur in other Sacramento neighborhoods, Robles said. The Sacramento Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District says it will cost about $33,000 to purchase the mosquitoesnd the releases are scheduled to begin on july 8th.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Sterilized mosquitos helping with notable drop in Southern California nuisance
A pilot program aiming to reduce the massive invasive mosquito population in Southern California seems to be working so far, making for a notable decrease in the nuisance so far this year. For the first time in a decade, experts have seen a drop in "ankle-biters," more formally known as the aedes aegypti mosquito. The program releases millions of sterilized mosquitos — meaning they're unable to reproduce — in some of the biggest trouble areas. "It's very exciting," said Dr. Solomon Birhanie, the scientific director for the West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. Read more: Invasive "ankle-biter" mosquitos plaguing Southern Californians He says that they've seen notable drops in population across the region so far in 2025, after a yearly incline dating back to 2015, when it was first detected in Southern California. On top of limiting the nuisance associated with mosquitos — itchy, swollen bites and buzzing — it should also help prevent the spread of disease. Aedes aegypti or yellow fever mosquito sucking blood on skin,Macro close up show markings on its legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the upper surface of its thorax / Getty Images When they do reproduce, mosquitos can lay millions of eggs at a time, usually in bodies of standing water as small as a bottle cap or a garden drain. As areas like this are tough to reach for mosquito control agencies, and most mosquitos are resilient to common pesticides, they decided to try and implement the new method. Male mosquitos are raised in a lab and then zapped by X-ray machines, which makes them become sterile and unable to bite or spread disease. Instead, officials say that they'll mate with the female mosquitos when they're released into the wild. "Those females mate with one of our sterile males; any sperm she collects, she will then store for all of her batches of eggs. But, if she's mated with one of our sterile males, any sperm that she collects, she will then store for all of her batches of eggs. If she's mated with one of our males, then any of those eggs that she lays will not be viable," said Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District director Steve Vetrone in May last year when the program was announced. Read more: Officials concerned swimming pools in Eaton Fire burn zone could turn into breeding grounds for mosquitos In some especially dense areas in San Bernardino County, the aedes population has dropped by 44%, while in the Suland-Tujunga area they've seen a remarkable 82% drop. So far, Dr. Birhanie says that they've received interest from multiple agencies, but scaling targeted programs like this to large areas requires time and resources. Los Angeles County officials say such a program could cost homeowners approximately $20 per person a year, while medium-sized areas wouldn't require as large of a budget. Some other regions have resorted to introducing mosquito fish to water, which resulted to a 65% reduction in some Inland Empire regions like Rancho Cucamonga.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pools in Eaton Fire zone could become mosquito breeding grounds, experts say
The Brief Pools in the area affected by the Eaton Fire could become breeding grounds for millions of mosquitoes. Experts have identified nearly 3,000 pools, fountains, jacuzzis and broken septic systems that they're worried about. Officials are asking residents in the burn areas to contact Vector Control offices if they have water features on their properties that may need treatment. PASADENA, Calif. - Hundreds and hundreds of swimming pools in homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes — a lot of mosquitoes. Each unattended pool can become the source of as many as 3 million mosquitoes in one month. By the numbers Technicians from the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control are trying to get ahead of the problem as the weather begins to heat up. They've identified 1,300 pools in destroyed or heavily damaged homes inside the burn zone and about 1,400 on its perimeter, filled with ash and debris. SUGGESTED: Eaton Fire decimates one of LA's historic Black communities That's 2,700 pools, plus fountains, jacuzzis, even broken septic systems they are worried about. Why you should care It's a health issue, explained Communications Director Anais Medina Diaz. West Nile Virus is already endemic in Southern California. But LA County documented as many as 234 cases of Dengue fever last year. Spread by mosquitoes, it can cause high fever, body aches, vomiting and rashes. What you can do Officials are asking residents in the burn areas to contact Vector Control offices, and let them know if there are water features in their properties that may need treatment. There is no additional cost to property owners for requesting inspections or treatments. Just go to their website at The Source Information in this story is from interviews with San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control.
