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Vector control officials outline plan to release sterile male mosquitoes in Mission Viejo
Summary
Orange County Vector Control staff told the council the sterile insect technique will scale up in Mission Viejo with weekly releases likely exceeding 100,000 sterile males starting in late May, as a tool to reduce Aedes aegypti populations and disease transmission risk.
Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District staff briefed the Mission Viejo City Council on April 8 about the sterile insect technique (SIT) pilot in the city. The presenter, Amber, said SIT involves raising local Aedes aegypti, separating and irradiating males so resulting eggs are infertile, and releasing sterile males at ratios high enough to suppress the wild population. Staff said SIT is an environmentally oriented pest-management strategy intended to reduce nuisance and disease risk associated with Aedes aegypti.
Amber described project scale and monitoring plans: the project site covers about 100 acres near Maryland's, roughly between Aliso Boulevard and Aliso Parkway, staff completed a two-year preparation and mark-release-recapture studies, and officials expect to scale to "what will likely be more than 100,000 of the sterile males a week" when releases begin in late May. Councilmembers asked about geographic scope and expansion, and staff emphasized weekly trapping, community outreach with HOAs and schools, and the district's ability to respond to resident service requests.
