UC Mosquito Research Program: Mosquito Vector and Control

Mosquito Abatement Act. On May 25, 1915, the California State Legislature passed the Mosquito Abatement Act, giving local governments the power to obtain revenues and form special districts to protect the public from the hazards of mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases. That same year a small group of districts formed. Today 61 organized mosquito control agencies serve the residents of California.

Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC). MVCAC represents 61 mosquito and vector control programs covering more than 32 million California residents inside 38,000 square miles. The state’s mosquito control program, widely regarded as one of most effective in the world, has greatly limited or eliminated the transmission of once-common mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria.

The California districts incorporate a three-pronged attack —surveillance, public education and mosquito control.

Surveillance determines the presence of the pathogen before human transmission becomes epidemic, and helps target control efforts.

Public education includes how to design, set up and manage large mosquito control programs. Among the logistics: financial, managerial, personnel and legal issues.

Mosquito control employs the latest physical, biological and chemical means to reduce mosquito populations near population centers. Tailored for a wide variety of landscapes, wetlands and population centers, the control methods include the use of mosquito fish; sensible irrigation practices and landscape alterations to reduce breeding sources; larvicides; and ground-based or aerial pesticide applications.

Mosquito Vector and Control

California Mosquito Mapping Project

Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier

West Nile Virus Links

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS/USDA) West Nile Virus
- General Disease and Disease Surveillance Information
- What Is APHIS?
Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, UC Davis
- California Vectorborne Disease Surveillance System (cooperative project of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, the California Department of Health Services, and the University of California)
- Latest Arbovirus Surveillance Summary
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
State of California West Nile Information (California Department of Health Services)
Statistics show that in 2005:
- 54 of the 58 counties reported WNV activity
- 18 people died of West Nile disease, and 926 individuals from 40 counties were infected
- 456 horses tested positive for WNV in 43 counties; of that number, 200 died or were euthanized.
- 3,044 dead birds in 52 counties tested positive for WNV.
- 1,242 mosquito pools from 29 counties tested positive for WNV.
- 1,053 sentinel chickens from 31 counties tested positive for West Nile/Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) antibodies.






Home About this Program Announcements and Events Research News Publications History Related Links Contact Us	Mosquito Vector and Control Mosquito Abatement Act. On May 25, 1915, the California State Legislature passed the Mosquito Abatement Act, giving local governments the power to obtain revenues and form special districts to protect the public from the hazards of mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases. That same year a small group of districts formed. Today 61 organized mosquito control agencies serve the residents of California. Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC). MVCAC represents 61 mosquito and vector control programs covering more than 32 million California residents inside 38,000 square miles. The state’s mosquito control program, widely regarded as one of most effective in the world, has greatly limited or eliminated the transmission of once-common mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria. The California districts incorporate a three-pronged attack —surveillance, public education and mosquito control. Surveillance determines the presence of the pathogen before human transmission becomes epidemic, and helps target control efforts. Public education includes how to design, set up and manage large mosquito control programs. Among the logistics: financial, managerial, personnel and legal issues. Mosquito control employs the latest physical, biological and chemical means to reduce mosquito populations near population centers. Tailored for a wide variety of landscapes, wetlands and population centers, the control methods include the use of mosquito fish; sensible irrigation practices and landscape alterations to reduce breeding sources; larvicides; and ground-based or aerial pesticide applications. Mosquito Vector and Control Mosquito Vector and Control Association of California Web site Roster of Member Agencies Map of Mosquito Abatement Districts (PDF) California Mosquito Mapping Project Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier West Nile Virus Links Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS/USDA) West Nile Virus General Disease and Disease Surveillance Information What Is APHIS? Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, UC Davis California Vectorborne Disease Surveillance System (cooperative project of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, the California Department of Health Services, and the University of California) Latest Arbovirus Surveillance Summary Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) West Nile Virus Activity by State How to Avoid Mosquito Bites Fact Sheet about West Nile Virus Questions and Answers about West Nile Virus What is the CDC? Other Related West Nile Links State of California West Nile Information (California Department of Health Services) Statistics show that in 2005: 54 of the 58 counties reported WNV activity 18 people died of West Nile disease, and 926 individuals from 40 counties were infected 456 horses tested positive for WNV in 43 counties; of that number, 200 died or were euthanized. 3,044 dead birds in 52 counties tested positive for WNV. 1,242 mosquito pools from 29 counties tested positive for WNV. 1,053 sentinel chickens from 31 counties tested positive for West Nile/Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) antibodies.

Mosquito Research Program - Department of Entomology - UC Davis - UC Agriculture and Natural Resources One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 © 2006, The Regents of the University of California.

Comments or Questions: Nancy Dullum, Program Assistant Last updated: 11/06/2006