LAKE COUNTY >> The Lake County Vector Control District is an agency that is extremely important to the county, but few residents are familiar with their operation.
The Lakeport-based agency is headed up by Jamesina Scott who holds a Ph.D in biology. The mission of the agency is to control vectors in Lake County.
According to the California Health and Safety Code, a vector is defined as “any animal capable of transmitting the causative agent of human disease or capable of producing human discomfort or injury, including but not limited to mosquitoes, flies, mites, ticks, other arthropods, rodents and other vertebrates.”
According to Scott, there have been suggestions that Vector Control take over the quagga mussel and algae removal programs in Clear Lake; however, since neither are considered a vector, the district does not have the authority assume these tasks.
Vector Control was once called Mosquito Abatement District but changed its name in 1995. The district is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees with three appointed by the Lake County Board of Supervisors and one each appointed by the city of Lakeport and the city of Clearlake.
Scott says that her agency spends most of its time and efforts controlling mosquitoes that can spread West Nile Virus in the county. The primary mosquito that is responsible for spreading West Nile Virus in Lake County is of the Culex species. This mosquito is commonly found in backyard pools and bird baths. There are 23 different species of mosquitoes in Lake County.
West Nile Virus was first discovered in America in 1999 when it was found in the Bronx Zoo. Since then it has spread across the country. The way it is spread is that female mosquitoes feed on infected birds and transfer the virus to another warm blooded animal. Only a few animals are carriers of the virus and they are mostly birds, such as crows and ravens. Humans can contract the virus but cannot pass it on. To date this year there has been only one human case of West Nile Virus found in the count,y but the virus has been found 18 dead birds and 68 mosquitoes have test positive for the virus.
Statewide in 2014 there have been 375 human cases of West Nile Virus and 15 deaths.
The symptoms for West Nile Virus are similar to a cold or flu and many people contract the virus but are never aware of it. After a few days the person recovers. Those with a suppressed immune condition can get very ill. A simple blood test can identify if a person has the virus. There is currently no cure for West Nile Virus.
Scotts says one of the best ways to control the mosquitoes is with mosquito fish, which the district will provide free-of-charge. The fish will eat the larva the mosquitoes deposit.
The district is currently building ponds just outside of Lakeport to raise the mosquito fish. She said that residents should also drain their ponds and bird baths to prevent the mosquitoes from laying their eggs.
The district also does work with ticks that can spread Lyme disease. There have been ticks found in the county that have tested positive for the disease and there have been a number of cases where humans in the county have been infected with the disease. It can be cured with antibiotics.
More information about the Lake County Vector Control District can obtained by calling 263-4770.
