Greater LA County Vector Control briefs Montebello council on dengue, West Nile and new sterile‑mosquito pilot

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District presented an overview of its services and programs to the Montebello City Council, summarizing recent local mosquito‑borne disease activity, routine control practices and new technology pilots.

Caroline Gongora, the district's public information coordinator, told the council the district is the largest of five vector control agencies in Los Angeles County and that Montebello falls within its service area. She said district services are funded by property and special assessment taxes and that the current cost to the district per single‑family home is $18.97.

Gongora said dengue is a growing local threat and described recent activity: "In 2024, we did have 40 ... associated cases within our service area, but LA County did have 14 cases. And of those 14, 3 of them were locally acquired, in our service area," she said. She also noted that West Nile virus remains endemic and that the district conducts year‑round surveillance of mosquitoes, mosquito traps and dead birds to detect viral activity.

The district described three operational departments: operations (field response and yard inspections), scientific and technical (trap setting, species identification and laboratory testing in partnership with UC Davis and state public health) and communications (public outreach and education). Gongora described common breeding sources — including poorly maintained swimming pools, street gutters and underground storm drains — and said the district performed more than 2,300 inspections in 2024.

She described control methods and public‑safety practices. The district uses an integrated vector management approach, emphasizing surveillance and targeted control. For larval control the district highlighted biological products such as BTI, a bacteria‑based larvicide, and said adulticides for flying mosquitoes are used selectively. Gongora said the district attempts to notify the public when performing adulticide treatments, particularly near schools, and schedules such treatments in early morning hours to reduce impacts on pollinators.

Gongora also discussed an emerging, nonchemical tactic called sterile insect technique (SIT), in which male mosquitoes are sterilized using X‑rays and released to mate with wild females so that eggs are not viable; she described SIT as "eco friendly" and intended to reduce local mosquito populations and disease risk over time.

Council members asked about human and pet safety related to chemical treatments and about local trustee involvement. Councilmember Scarlett Peralta asked whether spraying chemicals could harm children or pets and whether the public is notified; Gongora said the district primarily targets aquatic stages with biological larvicides and that adulticide notifications are issued for special treatments. Mayor Pro Tem Georgina Tamayo asked about a Montebello resident who serves on the district board; Gongora confirmed Trustee Abig Cordero is a Montebello resident who serves on the district board and helps the district coordinate outreach with Montebello staff.

Gongora closed by urging Montebello residents to report standing water, green pools or persistent mosquito problems and to contact the district for property inspections; she also thanked the city for prior partnership and requested continued joint outreach to help residents identify and reduce mosquito breeding sources.

No council action was taken on the district presentation; the item was a public information presentation followed by council questions.