Press Releases

Hello Residents,

Happy April! We just concluded West Nile Virus and Vector and Mosquito Awareness Week, which took place from Sunday, April 22 through Saturday, April 28. In addition to West Nile virus, we'd like to remind you about the Asian tiger mosquito. This invasive species is dangerous and transmits many debilitating diseases worldwide. Please continue to call (562) 944-9656 to report daytime bites or mosquito sightings to help us eradicate this enemy.

GLACVCD would also like to encourage you to take the time to mosquito-proof your backyard both before and after it rains. Before it rains, make sure that containers are stored inside or discarded, that rain barrels have fine-mesh screens on them, and that lids are placed on trash cans. Asian tiger mosquitoes require very little water to breed and even a trash wrapper can collect enough rain water to become a breeding source for this mosquito species. You should also eliminate water dishes beneath potted plants and all backyard trash to help protect yourself from this species. After it rains, take a few minutes to make sure that water didn't collect on your bromeliad leaves or on the pool cover. Standing water can become a mosquito breeding source in as few as three days so it is important to eliminate standing water from your backyard. Please do your part to ensure that these April showers will bring May flowers and not more mosquitoes!

We hope you enjoy this edition of Buzzword. We're highlighting the local winner of our annual student poster contest, Jennifer Castro. We've also included an upcoming events section, and we hope you'll come visit us out in the community.

Until next month,

GLACVCD

EPCs Andy and LeShawn with Jennifer

Education Program Coordinators LeShawn Simplis and Andrew Pak surprised a deserving Jennifer Castro at Toluca Lake Elementary School on Monday, April 23. The fifth-grade student won GLACVCD's and the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control Public Health and Educational Foundation's third annual "Bite Back Against Mosquito Attacks" Student Poster Contest.

Fourth through sixth grade students living within the boundaries of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District were encouraged to share their artistic ability by creating posters reflecting the theme "Mosquito Control Matters." Posters could be created using paint, colored pencils, crayons, or charcoal. The posters were judged on creativity, reflection of the theme, and accurate spelling. GLACVCD and the Foundation use the poser contest as an outreach tool to teach children about vector control and disease prevention in an engaging and meaningful way.

Jennifer created a drawing featuring a mosquito biting a person's arm. She said that the inspiration for her poster came from wanting to warn people of the mosquito problem in Los Angeles and that everyone should be careful when they're outside. "I don't want people to be bit by mosquitoes," Jennifer said. Jennifer lives at home with her parents and two older siblings. Her favorite subject is math, and she enjoys hanging out with friends, playing basketball, and playing outside.

As the winner of the poster contest, Jennifer will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and a pizza party for her class. Jennifer shared that she is very excited about the pizza party, and her favorite type of pizza is Hawaiian style. In addition to these prizes, Jennifer's artwork will be featured on approximately 50 Los Angeles County Metro buses throughout the summer as part of GLACVCD's mosquito awareness campaign and on GLACVCD's website.

Jennifer is an excellent example in the community. GLACVCD and the Educational Foundation thank Jennifer for her commitment to public health and hope that she continues to inspire those around her into adulthood. 

Headquarters

12545 Florence Avenue

Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

Phone: (562) 944-9656

Sylmar Branch   

16320 Foothill Boulevard

Sylmar, CA 91342   

Phone: (818) 364-9589

info@glacvcd.org       

www.glacvcd.org