PDF_20220224_70th Anniversary

Santa Fe Springs, CA (February 24, 2022) – February 25th marks the 70th anniversary of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (District/GLACVCD), the largest mosquito and vector control district in Los Angeles County. For seven decades, the District has provided essential public health services by protecting cities and communities from mosquito-borne diseases through surveillance, mosquito control, and public education to the six million residents within its jurisdiction.

To honor its years of public service, the District will be organizing a variety of events and giveaways to promote its 70th-anniversary celebration throughout the year:

• GLACVCD will host an open house on Saturday, April 16th at its Santa Fe Springs headquarters with special guests, food, music, and giveaways.
• In February 2022, the District will launch a photo contest open to all residents. The contest will have multiple photo categories and will be shared on social media, with city partners, and other organizations.
• The District will launch a PSA contest to engage youth and work with the community to promote mosquito prevention and source reduction.

“Our District is proud of the service it has provided the communities in our area over the decades, but this milestone is a reminder that our work is always ongoing. We continue to adapt to new challenges and strive to develop innovative ways to protect our residents from mosquito-borne diseases,” said Susanne Kluh, interim general manager.

GLACVCD was first established in 1952 as the Southeast Mosquito Abatement District after merchants and residents petitioned the County Board of Supervisors to form a special district to control mosquitoes emanating from the Los Angeles River. Since then, the District has evolved and now provides a non-biting Midge Control Program and a Black Fly Control Program associated with a 26-mile corridor along the Los Angeles River.

Today, the District encompasses approximately 1,000 square miles and provides vector control services to more than six million residents in portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County and 36 cities, including Artesia, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Burbank, Carson, Cerritos, Commerce, Cudahy, Diamond Bar, Downey, Gardena, Glendale, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Park, La Cañada Flintridge, La Habra Heights, Lakewood, La Mirada, portions of Long Beach, Los  Angeles City, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Norwalk, Paramount, Pico Rivera, San Fernando, San Marino, Santa  Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, Vernon, and Whittier.

Join the celebration by following the District’s social media platforms and entering its contest throughout the year on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or visit bit.ly/70years-GLAmosquito.  

While the District invites you to celebrate this monumental milestone, they hope to equip and empower residents and businesses with the tools to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes.

“With the arrival of the invasive Aedes mosquito in our region, vector control agencies across the state and nation are faced with their toughest challenge yet,” said Director of Communications Mary-Joy Coburn. “We are committed to a sustainable approach to vector control and with the help of residents, will work together to combat this aggressive mosquito.”

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility and residents must take an active role in reducing the threat of West Nile Virus (WNV) and invasive Aedes mosquitoes in their neighborhoods by taking the following steps:

• Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs, or anything else that holds water for more than a week.
• Wear EPA-approved and CDC-recommended insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present.
• Report neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district.

For more information, residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656, or online at www.GLAmosquito.org.