Mosquito News
Mosquito-Borne Diseases:
A Growing Threat to Our Communities
Californians are already dying from mosquito-borne illnesses. West Nile virus, transmitted primarily by infected Culex mosquitoes, poses an established threat statewide. The Seattle Times reported that California saw a five-year high in West Nile virus cases, with three deaths. Most infected people experience few or no symptoms, but severe cases can cause inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, permanent neurological damage, and death. Dengue, Zika, and chikungunya present additional concerns as invasive Aedes mosquitoes establish themselves in new communities. These are not hypothetical diseases. They are real public health threats with potentially life-altering consequences.
We cannot wait for our Monterey Peninsula neighbors to become seriously ill—or die—before taking preventive action. By the time a mosquito-borne disease claims a local life, we've already missed the chance to prevent it. Now is the time to strengthen our defenses through public education, elimination of standing water, mosquito surveillance, and environmentally responsible mosquito control. Supporting healthy bat populations and providing suitable bat roosting habitat can contribute to local insect biodiversity and natural insect predation.
Prevention begins before the first local tragedy—not after it.
Mosquito-borne diseases are a growing public health concern in California, and the threat is moving closer to home. As temperatures rise and invasive Aedes mosquitoes expand their range, diseases once associated primarily with tropical climates are becoming an increasing concern for California communities. These include West Nile virus, dengue (commonly known as breakbone fever), Zika, and chikungunya. While some infections cause relatively mild symptoms, others can result in debilitating joint pain, neurological damage, serious birth defects, hospitalization, and even death. Mosquitoes may be tiny, but the diseases they carry can have devastating consequences.
Los Angeles County is already confronting this growing threat. The spread of invasive mosquitoes has heightened concerns about locally transmitted diseases, particularly dengue, which can cause excruciating muscle and joint pain. As highlighted in this report on Southern California's mosquito problem, mosquito-borne disease is no longer simply a problem affecting distant countries. And the warning signs are appearing farther north. In neighboring Santa Cruz County, KSBW reported a public warning about an invasive tropical mosquito. With Santa Cruz immediately north of Monterey County, this is a development our communities cannot afford to ignore.
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