A representative of the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District spoke at each of the local real estate agent tour meetings explaining how we as agents, as well as the general public, can help to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus.
First a little background:
West Nile Virus is a disease carried by birds and spread from bird to bird by infected mosquitoes. People, and other animals, can be infected as well by mosquitoes. Most people will never show symptoms or realize they were infected (1 in 150 infected people show symptoms according to the Mosquito & Vector Control District). In rare cases though, people can become very ill or even die from the infection. Other animals have a much higher death rate, such as horses where 1 in 3 affected horses will die.
So the key to preventing the spread of West Nile Virus lies in preventing the breeding of mosquitoes as well as the avoidance of being bitten by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in standing untreated water, and it does not have to be much water either. Examples of prime breeding areas are neglected pools & spas, ponds, fountains, animal troughs and even items that capture & hold sprinkler or rain water such as old tires, Frisbees, etc.
Why did the District meet with local real estate agents?
The District uses many methods of communicating with the public. In the current housing market, with such a high number of vacant homes, they realized that agents list, view and show these vacant homes and can be part of the front line of defense in reporting these potential mosquito habitats. They also asked us to share with our clients this information so that our clients could eliminate potential breeding sources and report on other sources at vacant homes around them.
How to eliminate potential mosquito breeding areas:
The best way is to make sure all water sources are properly maintained. Pools, spas, ponds, fountains etc that have filtered and chlorinated water will not be suitable breeding spots. If you have a natural pond or other water feature, one of the best methods is to stock the water with mosquitofish. The District will provide these fish to you free of charge. These fish will eat up to 500 mosquito larvae per day and will repopulate your water feature to keep it mosquito free for years.
Dump and change water frequently. If you have pets with outdoor water bowls, dump the water every day and replace with fresh water. Any standing water, such as in old wheel barrows, coffee cans, tires, etc should be dumped out.
If the potential problem area is with another home, talk with the owner or report it to the district so that they can deal with the owner.
How to report areas of concern, or learn more:
If you suspect any home has standing & improperly maintained water, report it to the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District at either (925) 685-9301 or you can email them at ccmvcd@ccmvcd.net.
You can learn more about prevention at the District's website: http://www.ccmvcd.dst.ca.us/.
Your property tax dollars at work:
The District is actually a public health agency, funded by the property taxes all property owners pay every year.
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