Helicopter Spraying to Take Place Thursday Morning in Coachella

Coachella, CA– Local vector control officials will utilize a helicopter to conduct further spraying in Coachella this week in an effort to eliminate a mosquito infestation that has been present in the city since early May.

Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District crews have been spraying yards using trucks throughout the city in response to the presence of Aedes agypti mosquitoes, which are capable of transmitting deadly viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever, viruses not currently transmitted in California by mosquitoes, according to the Vector Control District.

Since the mosquitoes were initially detected in May, CVMVCD crews have established an inspection zone that include 1,700 homes, apartments and businesses in Coachella.

About half of those properties have been inspected so far, according to CVMVCD's Jill Oviatt.

Use of a helicopter was recently approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for larval control and aerial adult control applications in hard- to-reach areas of the city that have not received sufficient applications, according to the district.

"We are finding some evidence of Aedes aegypti in each of these areas, but we still don't know how far beyond this area the mosquito may be," Oviatt said. "Efforts so far have definitely knocked out some of the mosquitoes, but at this point we know there are more breeding sites we have not reached, which is why we are using the aerial larvicide strategy."

Aerial applications will take place early Thursday morning, covering 100 acres bordered by Cairo Street, Shady Lane, Valley Road and Harrison Street.

Around 500 homes are within the application area, but the 10-to-20- minute application poses no health risks, officials said.

The helicopter will utilize VectoBac WDG, which CVMVCD officials say is environmentally friendly, used for application on organic crops and has no effect on people or pets in the amounts used for mosquito control.
According to Oviatt, similar aerial applications have been conducted successfully in Florida, which both brought down the local mosquito population and showed no issues with spotting or staining of structures or vehicles.

Vector control officials also urged homeowners to be on the lookout for standing water sources, where mosquitoes lay their eggs, and drain or remove those sources.

Officials said eliminating Aedes agypti mosquitoes from the Coachella Valley would be instrumental to reducing the risk of West Nile and Saint Louis encephalitis virus transmission in the region.

West Nile virus has already been detected in eight mosquito samples found in Palm Springs this year.
To report mosquito issues or activity, contact CVMVCD at (760) 342-8287 or (888) 343-9399.

– By City News Service. Image via Shutterstock.