California Mosquito Awareness Week highlights simple steps residents throughout the state can take to reduce mosquito populations and protect public health.

Santa Fe Springs, CA (April 14, 2025) – As millions of Los Angeles County residents welcome the arrival of spring and warmer weather, vector control districts across the state are gearing up for a different seasonal arrival—mosquitoes. The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD/District) joins public health officials, agencies, and cities statewide to promote California Mosquito Awareness Week from April 13-19. This statewide campaign raises awareness about the public health threat mosquitoes pose to our communities and encourages residents to prevent mosquito breeding year-round.

To commemorate the week and engage the public, the District will launch a digital campaign featuring daily Facebook and Instagram Live segments focused on mosquito prevention. These interactive sessions—held at 2 PM from Monday, April 14 to Friday, April 18—will highlight simple, practical steps residents can take to eliminate breeding sources around their homes. Additionally, the District will share informative content across its social media platforms to raise awareness about the impact of mosquitoes and the diseases they spread. “Mosquito-borne diseases remain a serious public health concern, with California among several states that experienced a record number of travel-related and locally transmitted dengue cases last year,” said Susanne Kluh, GLACVCD General Manager. “In addition to the growing threat of dengue, we remain vigilant in monitoring for West Nile virus, which is endemic in Los Angeles County.”

The rapid spread of invasive Aedes mosquitoes has not only transformed mosquito control and surveillance efforts but has also significantly affected the outdoor experience for Angelenos. Unlike the native Culex mosquito species, Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters that thrive in urban environments, breeding in small, often overlooked sources of stagnant water in residential yards. Their growing presence has led to increased biting pressure, heightened frustration, and rising concern over the local transmission of diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya—making mosquito prevention more critical than ever.

“While the District conducts year-round surveillance and mosquito control in public areas, residents play a vital role in preventing mosquito breeding around their homes,” added Kluh. “Everyone needs to do their part by eliminating standing water and using insect repellent to help protect themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods from mosquito-borne diseases.”

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility, and residents are encouraged to take the following actions to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness in their communities:

● Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for over a week.

● Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained.

● Change the water in pet dishes, bird baths, and other small containers weekly.

● Request a service request from your local vector control district if chronic mosquito problems arise.

● Use 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 an extensive list of common indoor and outdoor sources and recommended solutions, visit bit.ly/diy-mosquito solutions. For more information, residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562 944-9656, online at www.GLAmosquito.org, or on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, Nextdoor, and YouTube. About GLACVCD

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About GLACVCD

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District is a public health agency formed under the authority of the California State Health & Safety Code. The agency’s mission is to promote healthy communities within the District's service area by countering the threat of mosquito and other vector-borne diseases through exceptional service, rigorous surveillance strategies, conscientious control measures, and comprehensive education efforts.