Press Releases

The Asian tiger mosquito, or Aedes albopictus, was first identified in September 2011 in the cities of El Monte and South El Monte. Although vector ecologists and vector control technicians have conducted extensive and ongoing door-to-door campaigns performing surveillance and treatments, the invasive species continues to thrive. To date, Asian tiger mosquitoes have been detected on approximately 240 properties within a 18-mile radius in South El Monte and El Monte. While the radius of infestation has not expanded since the mosquito was first discovered, the district continues to find Asian tiger mosquitoes on new properties.

"Control has only been achieved in neighborhoods where residents actively participate in the eradication effort.  The Asian tiger mosquitoes are a community problem requiring community support and action," says Truc Dever, GLACVCD Director of Community Affairs.  "We're asking for all residents to work with us to remove containers that hold standing water and backyard trash so we can effectively combat this public health threat."

The California Health & Safety Code (§2000-2093) provides broad authority to Vector Control Districts to abate public health problems. Any property that provides conditions favorable to mosquito reproduction violates the Health & Safety Code and can be fined up to $1,000 per day plus the cost of abatement.

The district is appealing to residents to remove items that collect standing water on their properties.  "Mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of water," says Dever. "Even a discarded candy wrapper left near a sprinkler or that collects rainwater can be a mosquito breeding source."

The Asian tiger mosquito is a vicious day-biting mosquito capable of transmitting diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya, which are currently not present in Southern California. It is a tenacious invasive species that thrives in urban areas where an abundance of standing water is available, and lush urban landscapes afford ideal living habitat.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, in partnership with the Mobile Science and Vector Education Foundation announces two opportunities for local students to win prizes while expressing themselves creatively through their original works!

Submissions are now being accepted for the 4th Annual "Bite Back Against Mosquito Attacks!" Student Poster Contest. This year, the District and Foundation will also award students who can write the best essay as part of the new essay writing contest. Details for each contest are as follows:

4th Annual Student Poster Contest: Bite Back Against Mosquito Attacks!

• Open to students grades 4-6 who are attending a school in the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District service area. (Visit www.glacvcd.org to find cities in our service area.)

• Participants should create a poster that promotes the "Bite Back Against Mosquito Attacks!" theme. Students' work may be focused on subject areas such as eliminating standing water, wearing mosquito repellents, and avoiding outdoor activities between dusk and dawn. The district's website can also serve as a resource for ideas.  Please go to: www.glacvcd.org.

• Posters may be created using paint, watercolor, pencil, pen, charcoal, crayons, pastels, etc. Posters should be no larger than 11 x 17 inches and should be on heavy, white paper stock.

• The grand prize winner will win a $100 gift card, a Little Caesars sponsored pizza party for his or her class, and will have the winning artwork featured on the GLACVCD website and summer mosquito awareness campaign.

• Submissions for this contest should be post-marked by March 22, 2013. Winners will be announced in April 2013 during California Mosquito Awareness Week.

Essay Writing Contest

• Open to students grades 4-5 who are attending a school in the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District service area. (Visit www.glacvcd.org to find cities in our service area.)

• Essays should be at least 200 words and no longer than 700 words.  All essays should contain an introductory paragraph and end with a summary/conclusion.  Essays submitted should be the final draft and free/limited from grammatical/spelling errors. 

• Essays should begin or end with the phrase: "...vector control is important to communities..."

• While essays do not have to be typed, it is highly recommended and all hand-written submissions must be legible for the participating judges to read.

• Submissions for this contest should be post-marked by March 22, 2013. Winners will be notified by April 22, 2013.

• The winning essay will receive a $100 gift card and a Little Caesars sponsored pizza party!

Entries for both contests should be mailed to:

Greater LA County

Vector Control District

12545 Florence Avenue

      Santa Fe Springs, CA  90670

For more information and official contest rules, visit:

http://www.glacvcd.org/Contents/Programs-Departments/Classroom-Education.aspx

October

Carson's End-of-Summer Jazz Festival

Date: Saturday, October 6

Time: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Anderson Park

19101 S. Wilmington Avenue

Carson, CA 90746

Granada Hills Valley Disaster Preparedness Fair

Date: Saturday, October 6

Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Fire Station 87

10124 Balboa Boulevard

Granada Hills, 91344

City of South Gate Family Day in the Park

Date: Saturday, October 13

Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

South Gate City Park

4855 Tweedy Boulevard

South Gate, CA 90280

1st Annual Alternatives Unlimited Community Family Fest

Date: Saturday, October 13

Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Riverfront Park

5000 Slauson Avenue

Maywood, CA 90270

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