The Mosquito Abatement Report

The Yuba County Grand Jury finds that the Sutter Yuba Mosquito and Vector Control District (SYMVCD) appear to be in compliance with their Best Management Practices manual. Genetically modified mosquitoes released into areas of concentrated West Nile Virus (WNV) cases could reduce the overall occurrences of the virus over time. Each year, the District prepares for the coming season utilizing a set of standards contained within a document called Best Management Practices Manual. The document is assembled from a number of sources including scientific literature, state and inter-agency documents, and experienced vector control professionals. Other procedures contained within this document come from District affiliates, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, specifically, a document titled: Environmental Effects of Mosquito Control appendix K4. The Grand Jury relied on the SYMVCD website: http://www.sutteryubamvcd.org/Public%20Health%20Pesticide%20Application% 20Notification.asp for the majority of this report. 2014-2015 Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report The Mosquito Abatement Report Figure 1. An example of a SYMVCD fogger unit. (January 2015) A further example of the proactive nature of the District is that several members of the Board of Trustees and employees attend conferences held around the country sponsored by various Mosquito abatement associations and districts. At its annual conference last fall the Florida Mosquito Control Association’s four day meeting featured a representative from a company called Oxitec. The representative presented a lecture on the subject of genetically modified mosquitoes that could be used to reduce the number of biting female mosquitoes in an environment. Briefly, the way it works is Oxitecs workers begin by modifying a select swarm of mosquitoes then manually remove females, aiming to release only males, which feed on nectar and don’t bite for blood like females. The modified males then mate with wild females whose offspring die, reducing 2014-2015 Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report The Mosquito Abatement Report the population. This technique is currently limited to Aedes Aegyptus mosquitoes which carry Dengue, and Chikungunya viruses. Oxitec is awaiting permission to release its modified mosquitoes this spring in Key Haven Florida, a neighborhood of more than 400 homes closely clustered on a relatively isolated peninsula at the north end of Key West. There are ongoing concerns that accompany any discussion which involves genetic modification of plants or animals. While genetic manipulation of any species of mosquitoes is still in its relative infancy, the mosquitoes responsible for transmitting WNV are just now getting attention from geneticists within the scientific community. The primary reason for low priority of concern over WNV is that compared to Malaria, West Nile Virus is not only survivable, but is much less debilitating, especially in the long term. Figure 2. An example of a SYMVCD fogger unit in use. (January 2015) The District provides plenty of detailed information on all of its operations on its website. The already abundant information is soon to be updated. The public’s ability to report and request assistance with problems relating to mosquito or other vector issues, or just obtain information, can be easily addressed online or by calling the District’s office.