Mosquito Bytes Newsletter 
November 2010
In This Issue
Fall is the Time for Ticks
15 & 20 years of service!
Davey Award

District wins international award for NEW website!

The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District has been named a winner of the silver 2010 Davey Awards from the International Academy of the Visual Arts. The District earned the recognition for the creation of their website.

"We are honored and thrilled to be recognized for our work," said Deborah Bass, public affairs manager for the District. "We are committed to developing our website to meet the growing demands for information and to deliver a creative and effective means of communication." 

The Davey Awards, sponsored by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, honors the "Creative Davids" who derive their strength from big ideas, not stratospheric budgets. The 2010 Davey Awards received more than 4,000 entries from around the world.

"The International Academy of the Visual Arts was honored to have once again participated in the International Davey Awards competition.  We were truly amazed and excited at the overall caliber and quality of this year's pool of entries" noted Linda Day, executive director of the IAVA.  She added "The Davey Awards serves as the benchmark for recognizing creative excellence and continues to raise the bar in honoring the best work from small agencies and firms worldwide. Congratulations to the "Creative Davids" at the forefront of their industry, helping to push the limits in creativity and design."

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Greetings!

 

Fall treesFall weather often gives us a false sense of security from vectors - those animals or insects capable of causing harm or discomfort to us. As much as we'd like to take a respite from them, we can't let our guard down.  Did you know, for example, that several species of mosquitoes are active in fall and winter? Rats are scurrying to find warm indoor accommodations and ticks are ample, perching atop blades of grass in hopes of hitching a ride home on you. Read on to learn more about these clever opportunists. We hope you keep a watchful eye for those vectors that live among us, and know that if you need our assistance, we are just a phone call or a mouse click away!
FALL IS THE TIME FOR TICKS 
Take these precautions before venturing to the outdoors 

 

Tick on leaf
Western Black-Legged Tick

Most people believe summertime is when the risk of being bitten by a tick is the greatest. After all, most folks increase outdoor activities as the temperatures increase. However, it's during late fall and winter that Contra Costa County residents are more likely to encounter adult ticks that potentially carry bacteria that cause illness, including Lyme disease. 

There are three species of ticks in the county that most commonly bite people: the American Dog Tick, the Pacific Coast Tick, and the Western black-legged tick. Of these, only the Western black-legged tick is considered to be the carrier and transmitter of Lyme disease. In Contra Costa County, these ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year, between October and March. 

Ticks can be found in all parts of the county including urban, suburban, and rural areas. They do not hop, jump, or fly. Instead, adult ticks climb to the top of grass or vegetation and wait for an animal or person to walk by and brush up against them. Ticks then grab hold of the passing person or animal and begin looking for a warm place to hide where they can feed by sucking blood. During the time that the tick is attached and feeding is when Lyme disease and other bacteria are transmitted. Ticks can remain attached for several days or until feeding is finished, when they let go and drop off. (click here to continue)
 

 


TWO EMPLOYEES CELEBRATE SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARIES 
Staff mark 15 and 20 years, respectively, of work at the District
 

The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District is honoring two long-time employees who are celebrating important anniversaries.  Vector Control Inspector Felipe Carrillo marks his 20th anniversary of protecting public health. Carrillo earned his degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nayarit in Mexico and worked for seven years at Mexico's Agriculture Department before coming to the District in 1990. Thanks to his extensive experience, he brought a depth of knowledge about protecting public health from vector-borne diseases when he arrived at CCMVCD 20 years ago. Today, he says he finds his work protecting public health to be just as rewarding as he did on his first day on the job.

The District's Scientific Programs Manager Steve Schutz, Ph.D. is celebrating his 15th anniversary at CCMVCD. Schutz received his entomology degrees on the east coast, and then pursued research opportunities in the west that allowed him to study deep sea marine life on a research submarine and then mountain peak mosquitoes on land, all while at the University of California, Davis. Steve arrived at the District in 1995. Today, he oversees the surveillance and testing of vectors, as well as the interpretation and reporting of the subsequent data.

Please join us in congratulating Felipe and Steve, both of whom are dedicated to working daily to protect the citizens of Contra Costa County from the insects and animals that can transmit disease.


Felipe Carrillo
Felipe Carrillo
Steve Schutz, Ph.D.
Steve Schutz, Ph.D.
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Mosquito Bytes.  Please send us your thoughts, questions, concerns, or ideas for future articles.  We'd love to hear from you!  Don't forget - our NEW Award-winning Website is chock full of information that is available anytime, everyday, including various videos to enrich your experience.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Craig Downs
General Manager

Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District 
155 Mason Circle  *  Concord, CA  94520
Phone: 925-771-6183  *  Fax:  (925) 685-0266
[email protected] (e-mail)