SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – A specific breed of mosquito, that potentially carries deadly viruses, has surfaced in Santa Cruz County.
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The bugs, named aedes aegypti mosquitoes, were detected near East Lake Avenue and Holohan Road in Watsonville, officials announced in a press release on Monday.
The insects could carry dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever; diseases which are not currently found in California.
Aedes aegypti are a common species of mosquito in some urban areas of the southeastern United States and Arizona. They were also previously found in Contra Costa, Sacramento and Merced counties, though they are not native to the area.
Officials said they are aggressive mosquitoes that will "bite at any time."
"What's different about these mosquitoes is that they specialize in living among humans and homes," Amanda Polson, assistant vector control manager for Santa Cruz County told KCBS Radio. "They can hide among vegetation and debris in our yards, which makes them very challenging to find and eliminate."
The insects are black and white, only about ¼ of an inch and they can hide at any time of day.
Vector control has set up a variety of traps for both adult mosquitoes and their eggs throughout the area. Santa Cruz County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said they are asking residents not to have any standing water in their homes.
"Go out, check your property, tip it over so it doesn't collect water anymore," he told KCBS Radio. "We really would not like to see these mosquitoes get established in Santa Cruz County and the public can play an important role in making sure that doesn’t happen."
In addition, officials said that the mosquitoes’ eggs can stick to the surfaces they’re laid on, so residents are urged to scrub bird paths and pet watering dishes weekly.
Vector control asked anybody that’s bitten by the mosquito to report the incident to them. Anyone that experiences symptoms including fever, headache, and joint or muscle pain after returning from an area where the diseases are present should contact their doctor immediately and stay indoors.
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