Orange County Mosquito & Vector Control recognizes Villa Park for outreach; county reports West Nile and flea-borne cases

A representative from Orange County Mosquito & Vector Control presented the city with an outreach award and briefed the council on vector surveillance in the county.

"This year's theme was 'Together We Fight,' and we're proud to recognize the city of Villa Park as the most supportive city in the small city category for the second year in a row," the agency representative said, thanking City Council and city staff for partnership in resident education efforts.

Later in the meeting a board member reported county-level surveillance figures: 159 positive mosquito samples in Orange County, concentrated in Anaheim, Fullerton and Garden Grove; 60 human West Nile virus cases had been reported statewide but none yet in Orange County; travel-acquired mosquito-borne illnesses had increased modestly; and flea-borne typhus cases in the county totaled 25 with 97 positive flea samples. The board member urged residents to "tip, toss and take action" to reduce mosquito breeding and to keep pets on veterinarian-recommended flea protection.

Council accepted the recognition and staff said the city will continue to collaborate with the district on public outreach and post the agency's wildfire-awareness and home-assessment materials on the city's website.