Our Mission is to provide for the health, safety, and comfort of the residents within our district boundaries by the abatement of mosquitoes and other vector populations in order to minimize vector-borne diseases, The District accomplishes this task through constant surveillance and by employing the principles of integrated pest management in our efforts to control vector populations.

To report a problem click the Service Requests tab at the top of this page.

For information regarding the Chikungunya virus click the Q&As tab at the top of this page.

Get the latest CDC Zika information at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html

The New York Times - Zika Virus video

Scientists in California are testing the use of bacteria-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to reduce their numbers and prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

Source: The New York Times.

CDPH News Release - May 15, 2017: CDPH News Release Californians Urged to Remove Standing Water to Reduce Mosquitoes

CDPH News Release - April 28, 2017: CDPH Confirms First Human West Nile Virus Illness of 2017

CDPH Media Release - March 20, 2017: Spring Break Travelers Reminded to Protect Themselves against Zika

HEALTH AND TRAVEL ADVISORY - February 2017: Zika in Latin America and the Caribbean

HEALTH AND TRAVEL ADVISORY - December 2016: Zika in Latin America and the Caribbean

CDPH Media Release - December 13, 2016: Holiday Travelers Reminded to Take Precautions to Prevent Zika

CDPH Media Release - November 14, 2016: Travelers to Latin America Urged to Take Precautions to Prevent Zika

The Current Mosquito Abatement Control Area in Green

**Note: If you are having problems viewing this map, please make sure your browser is up-to-date (specially Internet Explorer users)

HEALTH ADVISORY - February 8, 2016 PDF - Zika information for California healthcare providers

News Release PDF February 1, 2016 - California Department of Public Health Reminds Public to Guard Against Mosquito Bites

Public Announcement PDF Notice to certified organic farmers in Madera County

HEALTH ADVISORY - January 19, 2016 PDF - Zika virus in Latin America

NEWS RELEASE - August 19, 2016

End of Summer Travelers Urged to Take Precautions to Prevent Zika

SACRAMENTO – Travelers coming back from the Olympic Games in Rio and other vacation spots where the Zika virus is spreading are urged to take precautions upon return to help prevent the spread of the virus in California. While the virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, it can also pass from one person to another during sex.

"Summer travelers who spent time in Brazil or any other region with Zika-infected mosquitoes can protect themselves, their families and community members by taking a few simple steps,” said California Department of Public Health Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “Continue using insect repellent to prevent spreading the virus to mosquitoes in your community upon your return and refrain from unprotected sex so you don’t pass the virus to your partner."

Men and women should use condoms for at least eight weeks after travel, and men who have tested positive for Zika should use condoms for six months to prevent transmission to their partners. Travelers returning from an affected region should also continue using insect repellent for three weeks to prevent the virus from spreading to mosquitoes, which might then infect others.

"Pregnant women and couples planning to have children need to be especially cautious because Zika can cause significant harm to a developing fetus," said Dr. Smith. "Pregnant women who have traveled to an area with Zika should inform their doctor upon return, and couples returning from an affected area should speak with a doctor before getting pregnant."

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly. Two infants with Zika-related microcephaly have been born in California this year to women who had Zika virus infections during pregnancy after spending time in an area where the virus is circulating in mosquitoes.

While mosquitoes that can carry the virus have been found in 12 California counties, there is no evidence these mosquitoes are transmitting Zika in the state at this time. A team of experts across several disciplines at CDPH is working closely with local public health departments, vector control agencies and the medical community to ensure that California is responding aggressively and appropriately to the emerging threat of Zika virus.

As of August 19, CDPH has confirmed 170 travel-associated Zika virus infections in 26 counties. A total of 24 infections have been confirmed in pregnant women.

For more information about Zika, visit the CDPH Zika website, which includes the following resources:

• Zika and Travel
• Zika and Pregnancy
• Zika and Sex
• Mosquito Bite Prevention

NEWS RELEASE - August 4, 2016

CDPH Reports Two Cases of Zika-Related Birth Defects in California

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported today that two infants with Zika-related microcephaly have been born in California to women who had Zika virus infections during pregnancy after spending time in a country where the virus is endemic. While mosquitoes that can carry the virus have been found in 12 California counties, there is no evidence these mosquitoes are transmitting Zika in the state at this time.

"This is a sobering reminder for Californians that Zika can cause serious harm to a developing fetus," said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. "We join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in urging pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with known Zika transmission. Pregnant women who must travel to one of these areas should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and speak with a health care provider upon return."

"Zika virus can also be transmitted to sexual partners by both males and females. Both men and women of childbearing age should take precautions if they have recently traveled, or plan to travel, to a location where Zika is spreading," added Dr. Smith.

A team of experts across several disciplines at CDPH is working closely with local public health departments, vector control agencies and the medical community to ensure that California is responding aggressively and appropriately to the emerging threat of Zika virus. CDPH is actively monitoring all pregnant women with Zika infection in California. The Department is also collaborating with local health departments to provide assistance to families with infants born with Zika-related birth defects to ensure they receive appropriate medical care. Infants born to mothers with confirmed infections will be monitored for one year.

As of July 29, CDPH has confirmed 114 travel-associated Zika virus infections in 22 counties. A total of 21 infections have been confirmed in pregnant women. This information is updated every Friday on the CDPH Zika website.

While Zika infection is often asymptomatic, those who do have symptoms report fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for Zika other than supportive care, rest, fluids and fever relief. People traveling to areas with known Zika transmission should take steps to avoid mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol for long-lasting protection. If using sunscreen and insect repellent, apply sunscreen first and then the repellent. Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding should choose an EPA-registered insect repellent and use it according to the product label. Do not use insect repellent on infants less than two months of age.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use air conditioning or window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside. If mosquitoes may come indoors, sleep under a bed net.
• Reduce the number of mosquitoes outside by emptying standing water from containers, such as flowerpots and buckets.

Sexually active adults who travel to areas with Zika transmission should use condoms or other barriers in order to avoid getting or passing Zika during sex. Couples planning pregnancy should speak with a health care provider about a safe time to wait before trying to get pregnant.

CDPH provides Zika-related pregnancy outcome data to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry maintained by the CDC. The CDC is collecting this information to better understand the risks posed by Zika infection during pregnancy.

In order to protect privacy, CDPH is not releasing additional details or the locations of the mothers and children. Infants born with birth defects, including microcephaly, as a result of maternal Zika infection do not pose a public health risk to their communities.

For more information about Zika, visit the CDPH Zika website, which includes the following resources:

STATEMENT RELEASE - February 23, 2016

CDC encourages following guidance to prevent sexual transmission of Zika virus

CDC has committed to sharing the latest information on Zika virus as it becomes available. On February 5, 2016, CDC published interim recommendations for protecting people against sexual transmission of Zika virus. This guidance was issued after lab confirmation of the first case of Zika virus infection in a non-traveler in the continental United States, which was linked to sexual contact with an infected partner.

CDC and state public health departments are now investigating 14 new reports of possible sexual transmission of Zika virus, including several involving pregnant women. In two of the new suspected sexual transmission events, Zika virus infection has been confirmed in women whose only known risk factor was sexual contact with an ill male partner who had recently traveled to an area with local Zika virus transmission; testing for the male partners is still pending. For four additional suspected sexual transmission events, preliminary laboratory evidence (IgM antibody test) is available for the women, but confirmatory tests are pending. For eight other suspected events, the investigation is ongoing. In all events for which information is available, travelers were men and reported symptom onset was within 2 weeks before the non-traveling female partner's symptoms began. Like previously reported cases of sexual transmission, these cases involve possible transmission of the virus from men to their sex partners. At this time, there is no evidence that women can transmit Zika virus to their sex partners; however, more research is needed to understand this issue.

Although sexual transmission of Zika virus infection is possible, mosquito bites remain the primary way that Zika virus is transmitted. Because there currently is no vaccine or treatment for Zika virus, the best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites.

Because these new reports suggest sexual transmission may be a more likely means of transmission for Zika virus than previously considered, CDC issued a Health Advisory Notice (HAN) today to underscore the importance of adhering to the interim guidance published on February 5.

The CDC's February 5 interim guidance includes:

Recommendations for pregnant women and men with pregnant sex partners who live in or have traveled to Zika-affected areas:

• Pregnant women and their male sex partners should discuss the male partner’s potential exposures and history of Zika-like illness with the pregnant woman's health care provider (http://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms/). Providers should consult CDC's guidelines for evaluation and testing of pregnant women.
• Men with a pregnant sex partner who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission and their pregnant sex partners should use condoms the right way every time during sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) or abstain from sexual activity for the duration of the pregnancy. Using latex condoms the right way every time reduces the risk of sexual transmission of many infections, including those caused by other viruses.

Recommendations for non-pregnant women, and men with non-pregnant sex partners who live in or have traveled to Zika-affected areas:

• Couples in which a man resides in or has traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission who are concerned about sexual transmission of Zika virus may consider using condoms the right way every time during sex or abstaining from sexual activity.
• Couples may consider several factors when making this complex and personal decision to use condoms or not have sex:
• Zika virus illness is usually mild. An estimated 4 out of 5 people infected never have symptoms; when symptoms occur they may last from several days to one week.
• The risk of Zika infection depends on how long and how much a person has been exposed to infected mosquitoes, and the steps taken to prevent mosquito bites while in an affected area.
• The science is not clear on how long the risk should be avoided. Research is now underway to answer this question as soon as possible. If you are trying to get pregnant, you may consider testing in discussion with your health care provider.

These investigations are preliminary, and CDC will continue to update its guidance as more information becomes available.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NEWS RELEASE - February 1, 2016

California Department of Public Health Reminds Public to Guard Against Mosquito Bites

SACRAMENTO - California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today advised that although there is no evidence of mosquitoes carrying Zika virus in California, people should always take steps to avoid mosquito bites, including removing standing water and wearing insect repellant when necessary. Californians should also be advised of international travel alerts for the countries where Zika virus is circulating.

"Although no one has contracted Zika virus in California, mosquito bites can still be harmful and the public should take steps to protect themselves,"" said Dr. Smith. "Help reduce the risk of mosquito bites by removing standing water from around your home and wearing mosquito repellant when appropriate."

As of Jan. 29, 2016, there are six confirmed cases of Zika virus in California, all of which were contracted when traveling in other countries with Zika virus outbreaks in 2013 (1), 2014 (3) and 2015 (2). CDPH will continue monitoring for any confirmed cases in California and will provide weekly updates every Friday. To protect patient confidentiality, specific locations of infected patients cannot be disclosed.

Zika virus is primarily transmitted to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that can transmit dengue and chikungunya viruses. These mosquitoes - which are not native to California - have been identified in 12 California counties, although there are no known cases where the mosquitoes were carrying the Zika virus in this state. The six confirmed cases of Zika virus in California were acquired in other countries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing: American Samoa, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

People traveling to these and other countries with known Zika virus risk should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, including:

• Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol for long lasting protection. If you use both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first and then the repellent. Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding can and should choose an EPA-registered insect repellent and use it according to the product label
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside. If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes inside your home or hotel, sleep under a mosquito bed net
• Help reduce the number of mosquitoes outside by emptying standing water from containers such as flowerpots or buckets

The CDC and CDPH have also issued guidance for pregnant women recommending they avoid countries where Zika virus is circulating. Pregnant women who cannot avoid travel to these countries should talk to their health care provider and take steps to avoid mosquito bites. The CDC and CDPH have also provided guidance for physicians on the evaluation of pregnant women and infants who may have been exposed to Zika virus.

Most people infected with Zika virus will not develop symptoms. If symptoms do develop, they are usually mild and include fever, rash and eye redness. If you have returned from an affected country and have fever with joint pain, rash within two weeks, or any other symptoms following your return; please contact your medical provider and tell the doctor where you have traveled. While there is no specific treatment for Zika virus disease, the best recommendations are supportive care, rest, fluids and fever relief.

There is concern that Zika virus may be transferred from a pregnant woman to her baby during pregnancy or delivery. Preliminary reports suggest that Zika virus may cause microcephaly (abnormal fetal brain development). This possibility has not been confirmed and is being actively investigated. CDPH has requested that health care providers report suspected Zika virus disease or associated conditions of microcephaly to local health departments. Local health departments will report cases to CDPH, which is coordinating referral of any specimens to CDC for diagnostic testing.

For more information on Zika virus disease and other mosquito-borne illnesses, please visit the CDPH Zika virus information webpage.

Chikungunya

What It Is

Chikungunya virus (ChikV) (chik-un-GOON-ya) is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes joint pain and severe arthritis. It’s not normally fatal, but is extremely painful and symptoms can last for weeks or even months. In elderly people with compromised health, it can be a contributing factor to fatality.

Symptoms

• Abrupt onset of fever & joint pain
• Joint pain often debilitating
• May last days up to weeks
• Joint pain may persist for several months or years
• In older people, can contribute to death

How It Spreads

• ChikV is spread by two species: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Both are day biters.
• They are abundant through about half of the country, primarily in the south and east.
• They are container breeders and bite in or near homes and schools
• Unlike West Nile, humans are the reservoir for the virus – meaning that if a mosquito bites an infected human, it will become infected and can spread ChikV to other humans.
• Travelers returning from tropical climates are the ones bringing the virus back to the U.S. If Aedes albopictus or Aedes aegypti are present in your area and bite an infected returning traveler, local transmission can amplify.
• Even though Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti eggs can overwinter, the ability for an infected female to transmit the virus to progeny is very, very unlikely. By and large, these adults don’t survive the winter, CHIKV will not circulate (and will not be transmitted) until re-introduced by human travelers. That said, temperate areas with enough moisture can aid adults to overwinter.

How Is ChikV Detected

• Symptoms appear generally 4 – 8 days once bitten by an infected mosquito.
• 72 – 90% of those infected develop symptoms.
• At this time, there are no tests for ChikV in mosquito pools, only in human blood samples.

Why Are Aedes Mosquitoes Challenging to Control?

• Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are diurnal mosquitoes – active in daytime, resting in sheltered areas at night, especially Ae. aegypti.
• Aedes mosquitoes breed in sheltered areas and containers, like tires, gutters, pots, and wheelbarrows. Larviciding must reach these sheltered areas to be effective.
• Because Aedes rest at night, traditional adulticiding is difficult because mosquitoes are protected from contact with the adulticide.

What Should Mosquito Professionals Do?

• Identify whether you’re in an area likely to have ChikV (i.e., an area with significant populations of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti).
• Maintain surveillance and species counts for Aedes mosquitoes
• Implement a larval source reduction plan. Aerial larviciding with a liquid or granule, as well as ground ULV larviciding, have been used to reach containers of all sizes.
• Educate residents to reduce breeding sites, use repellent and wear long sleeves and pants.
• Enlist volunteers to help get the word out in addition to posting on community websites, district websites and media outreach.
• If a case is identified, quickly learn if it was locally transmitted or an imported case. Make sure the correct information is being conveyed in the media. To date, most ChikV is imported by travelers who were infected in other areas and developed symptoms upon their return home.
• Use vector-appropriate adult control as human cases emerge. Why wait? Because a human has to bring it into the area. Since Aedes have a short flight range, activating adult control around human case tends to be the most efficient approach to adult treatment.

What Are Tools for Suppressing Outbreaks of ChikV?

• There are no medications or vaccinations for ChikV, only pain medication to treat symptoms.
• Rotate larvicides to avoid resistance. Natular’s active ingredient, spinosad, has a unique mode of action and novel class of chemistry.
• Because Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti are more active in daytime hours, if mosquito control is done in the evening/early morning hours using an adulticide with an agent to excite resting mosquitoes (i.e., Duet®) would aid in controlling more of the natural population. Traditional adult control products and protocols may not provide effective control at levels necessary to control outbreaks.

Resources

The following resources are available on the Clarke website (Home Page link): www.clarke.com

CDC Link
www.cdc.gov/chikungunya

Labels available on the Clarke website (Labels/MSDS): www.clarke.com

• Duet
• Natular G30
• Natular EC
• Natular T30

Ballot Results Summary available in PDF here

The Madera County Mosquito & Vector Control District is a public health agency dedicated to the control of mosquito and other vector-borne diseases.
The District can be reached at (559) 662-8880 or here on our website.

The Mosquito Abatement District’s program is based upon scientific approaches that have been incorporated into a compre¬hensive strategy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), an approach that includes the following components: larval site monitoring, biological control, and the careful and strategic use of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency labeled and registered pesticide products.

Mosquito Life Cycle

Mosquito deposit their eggs on the inside walls of containers such as fountains, buckets, tires, etc.

The district participates in the state wide surveillance system by maintaining two sentinel chicken flocks, testing dead wild birds, and by trapping mosquitoes for testing with CO2 baited traps. Combined, these give us a warning ahead of time each season about the activity of the virus.

The chickens are bled once every two weeks during the months of May through October. The chickens represent a critical element of the District's surveillance program and help to prevent any transmission of SLE, WEE and WNV to the human population.

The District operates an ongoing program throughout the year to monitor for the presence of mosquito borne viral activity. Whenever a virus is detected in a particular area, mosquito control procedures are intensified to reduce mosquito populations in order to reduce the potential risk for humans or animals contracting West Nile Virus.

CDC CO2 Trap	New Jersey Light Trap	Gravid Trap

Report dead birds on your property to The West Nile Virus and Dead Bird Hotline (877) 986-BIRD (2473) dead birds (crows, blue jays and raptors) can be the first indicators of the presence of West Nile Virus in the area.

You can protect your horse by having it vaccinated for WNV. The best time to have your horse vaccinated is early spring. Contact your veterinarian to get your horse vaccinated correctly.

A neglected pool has abundant organic matter or bacterial growth, often with leaves or other debris, resulting in green to blackish-colored water.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM MOSQUITO BITES BY USING REPELLENTS!
Before you go outside, apply a repellent containing DEET

To report a neglected pool contact:
Madera County M&VCD
3105 Airport Dr. Madera, CA. 93637
(559) 662-8880

Mosquito Fish

Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis)
Mosquito fish have brown-olive green backs, sometimes with silver grey yellow tinges, and silver bellies. Males average about 1 1/4 inches in length: females range from 1 to 2 1/2 inches in length. The species was described in 1854, and it's value to mosquito control recognized in the early 1900's. originally it was found in the southern United States, Mexico and Cuba. It has become spread through many parts of the world, and has adapted to many habitats, including cooler climates. Some strains can survive for short periods in shallow water under thin ice, but temperatures below 65 degrees F., and less than 14 hours of sunlight per day usually prevent reproduction. Mosquito fish bear live young in broods of 40 to 100 or more. Most females die after producing three or four broods. They nay drop all of their young in one season or part in the next. Mosquito fish have controlled mosquito larvae in rice fields when planted early in the season at the rate of 300 per acre. Efficiency can be increased by eliminating larger predator fish before planting mosquito fish, by providing water circulation and holding reservoirs, by deepening channels, and by controlling weeds.
Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District stocks area permanent ponds with mosquito fish, and makes a concerted effort to stock semi-permanent bodies of water within the District's boundaries beginning in March and April of every year. The mosquito fish, proven to be efficient predator of mosquito larvae, has a wide range of temperature tolerance, and will thrive unless it's water is highly polluted. Since they have a high reproduction rate during summer months, a relatively small beginning population will build up fairly to whatever population level any given pond will support,
The District maintains holding ponds of mosquito fish for Madera County residents who want to stock their own ponds or watering troughs. Anyone wishing to pick up starter stock of mosquito fish should call our district a day in advance, bring a container preferably a 5 gallon bucket or large ice chest, and make arrangements to minimize the time fish are in transport.

Reporting Dead Birds

All dead bird pickups have to be routed thought the dead bird hot line. 1-877-968-2473 or Contact the California West Nile Hotline by clicking the Crow Picture below.

Neglected Swimming Pools

Poorly maintained pools can provide a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes, the prime culprit in spreading WNV. A significant percentage of mosquito complaints stem from neglected pools. Abandoned and neglected swimming pools have always been a problem, but now with West Nile Virus and Foreclosures nearing record levels ,it's extremely important to treat neglected pools as soon as possible.