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Vector Control District briefs Cudahy on dengue, West Nile and new sterile-insect pilot
Summary
A representative of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District briefed the council on mosquito-borne disease risks in the county, services provided in Cudahy and a sterile-insect pilot program; district staff encouraged residents and city staff to submit service requests for standing water and abandoned pools.
Caroline Gongora, representing the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, gave an overview on June 3 of local vector control services, disease risks and the district’s pilot programs for Cudahy residents and council members.
Gongora said the district is the largest of five vector control agencies in Los Angeles County and covers the city of Cudahy. “Some of the diseases that residents should be aware of… especially during mosquito season is dengue fever,” Gongora said, adding that last year the district recorded 14 dengue cases in its jurisdiction and detected three locally acquired infections without travel history. She also described ongoing West Nile virus activity and the district’s integrated vector management approach of surveillance, control and public education.
The nut graf: the district urged residents and city staff to report standing water, abandoned green pools and potential breeding sources; it also described a new sterile-insect technique pilot that releases irradiated male mosquitoes to reduce reproduction in target neighborhoods.
Gongora described operational activity: field operations respond to service requests, inspect standing-water sources (including flood control channels, gutters and abandoned pools), treat underground storm-drain systems and deploy mosquito traps for species and female/male counts. The district also collects dead birds for surveillance of West Nile virus. She highlighted a 2024 pilot using X-rays to sterilize male mosquitoes, releasing them in a targeted area (San Leandrohunga referenced in the presentation) to reduce mosquito populations without chemicals.
Council members welcomed outreach partnerships: one council member asked the district to participate in July 4 events and city staff outreach; Gongora recommended staff coordinate with the district’s public-education team and file service requests when city employees encounter stagnant water.
Ending: the district left contact information and encouraged residents and city staff to use the district’s website service-request form or phone line for inspections; the presentation was informational with no council action requested.
