District Report: September 2014

Transcription

1 Page 8 San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District Page 1 San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District Anaplasmosis The District received a report this past month of a human case of Anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease. The patient likely picked up a tick while hiking in Huddart Park, in Woodside. Anaplasmosis is less common in California than Lyme Disease or Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. However, for the past few years there have been a couple of cases each year that were probably acquired within parks in the County. Following a human case, District staff typically work with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to collect ticks for testing at parks that the infected individual visited. The ticks are tested by CDPH to determine the infection rate in ticks. The District lab does not currently test ticks for the bacteria that causes Anaplasmosis, but can utilize the current RT-PCR machine for testing in the future if necessary. The symptoms of Anaplasmosis are flu-like, including fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. Onset of symptoms is 1-2 weeks after transmission from a tick bite. The disease is rarely fatal, and can be treated with antibiotics. Residents should take the following precautions against tick bites: stay on trails use repellent with DEET or Permethrin in tick infested areas check yourself and children thoroughly for ticks after leaving tick infested areas Anaplasmosis is transmitted by Ixodes pacificus, the western black-legged tick. The same species also transmits bacteria that cause Lyme Disease and some types of Relapsing Fever. Public Education and Outreach Update San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District Protecting Public Health Since Rollins Rd. Burlingame, CA (650) info@smcmad.org SMCMVCD s new Public Health Education and Outreach Officer, Megan Caldwell, began work on Sept. 15th. The District is in the process of transitioning a variety of duties to this position, including creating and distributing press releases, responding to inquiries from media and city officials, updating brochures, coordinating outreach events, and scheduling educational presentations. Spark Creative Design has been chosen to complete the District rebranding. The new District logo and other branding materials will be chosen by key district staff and the Public Outreach and Environmental Committee, with the final recommendation presented to the board for approval in November. Work on this project will coincide with the District website redesign, providing a new, professional image for the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District. In September, SMCMVCD participated in two fairs: Brilliant!Science Pandemic at California Academy of Sciences and Pacific Coast FogFest in Pacifica. Both events were well-attended. Visit us on the web at: Visitors view live mosquitoes at Brilliant!Science Pandemic. District Report: September 2014 Table of Contents District News 1 Service Requests and Acres Treated 2 CO2 Traps 2 West Nile Virus 3 West Nile Virus Risk Assessment 4 Operations Report 5 Balance Sheet 6 Profit and Loss 7 Anaplasmosis 8 Public Education and Outreach Update 8 District staff collect a saliva sample from a red-tailed hawk at the Peninsula Humane Society to test for West Nile Virus. District News On Sept.18th, SMCMVCD fogged areas of Foster City, Belmont, Redwood City, Redwood Shores, and San Mateo in response to the discovery of mosquitoes positive for West Nile Virus. This fogging resulted in a 91% reduction in adult mosquito populations, and subsequent samples tested negative for West Nile Virus. On Sept.2nd, SMCMVCD fogged areas of Menlo Park and Redwood City in response to the discovery of mosquitoes positive for West Nile Virus. This fogging resulted in a 89% reduction in adult mosquito populations, and subsequent samples tested negative for West Nile Virus. Monitoring for West Nile Virus and Aedes aegypti in this area continues. CDPH reports one case of Lyme disease and three cases of Dengue fever in San Mateo County in September. All were believed to be acquired outside of California. CDPH reports one case of Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis that is believed to be acquired in San Mateo County. Over the weekend of Sept. 27th/28th, SMCMVCD participated in two fairs: Brilliant!Science Pandemic at California Academy of Sciences and Pacific Coast FogFest. Both events were well-attended. Helicopter applications of dry larvicidal treatment for Culex species were conducted at three locations on September 2nd. Airboat treatments for Spartina at Bair Island continue successfully. Technician Theresa Brickley left the district to pursue work in her area of interest, while Megan Caldwell joined the staff as Public Health Education and Outreach Officer. The district asks residents to call in to report dead birds or tree squirrels. Specimens that appear to have been dead for less than 24 hours and are in good condition will be tested for WNV. Residents should contact the state WNV hotline at 877-WNV-BIRD ( ). Reports can also be made online at

2 Page 2 Service Requests and Acres Treated Number of Service Requests in August Number of acres treated Source Type July August Marshes & Impounds Catch basins Other Ditches and drain lines Backyard ponds Water under buildings Swimming pools Vaults Containers Total CO2 Traps 2014 Five-Year Average

3 Page 3 West Nile Virus Surveillance SEASONAL TOTALS OF POSITIVE MOSQUITO POOLS 2014 STREET CITY ZIP CODE TEST DATE FOGGING DATE % REDUCTION Claremont St San Mateo June 19, 2014 June 19, % Ladera Oaks Portola Valley July 18, 2014 July 21, % Ellsworth Ct San Mateo July 18, 2014 July 21, % Ellsworth Ct San Mateo July 23, 2014 July 28, % Birch Ave San Mateo July 26, 2014 July 30, % Eisenhower St San Mateo July 29, 2014 July 30, % Robert Dr. Menlo Park August 06, 2014 August 11, % End of Louise Menlo Park August 06, 2014 August 11, % Webb Ranch Portola Valley August 08, 2014 N/A Webb Ranch Portola Valley August 08, 2014 N/A Clay Park South San Francisco August 11, 2014 August 19, % Hacker Way E Menlo Park August 22, 2014 August 24, % Haven Ave Redwood City August 29, 2014 September 2, % Boothbay Ave Foster City September 16, 2014 September 18, % Biscayne Ave Foster City September 16, 2014 September 18, % SEASONAL TOTALS OF POSITIVE BIRDS 2014 STREET CITY ZIP CODE BIRD SPECIES TEST DATE Cedar St. San Carlos American Crow June 4, 2014 Berenda Way Portola Valley Blue Jay July 9, 2014 Oak Hollow Way Menlo Park American Crow July 17, 2014 El Camino Real San Mateo American Crow July 21, 2014 Shoreline Dr. San Mateo American Crow July 25, 2014 Politzer Dr. Menlo Park American Crow August 04, 2014 Andeta Way Portola Valley American Crow August 04, 2014 Longford Dr. S. San Francisco House Finch August 15, 2014 Hermosa Way Menlo Park Blue Jay August 27, 2014 Cotton St. Menlo Park American Crow September 4, 2014 City Park San Bruno Hawk September 5, 2014 Lyme Lane Foster City American Crow September 11, 2014 Lyme Lane Foster City American Crow September 11, 2014 Hacker Way Menlo Park Sparrow September 11, 2014 E. Bayshore Rd. Redwood City Bluebird September 16, 2014 Biscayne Ave. Foster City House Finch September 23, 2014

4 Page 4 West Nile Virus Risk Assessment The West Nile Risk Assessment Rating for San Mateo County is currently 3.3 (see Risk Rating below). The California Department of Public Health generates a risk assessment level ranging from 1-5 for West Nile Virus (WNV). The risk level is determined by analyzing a combination of data on mosquitoes and infection rates gathered by the District, weather patterns and the state WNV hotline. The risk levels are explained as: Risk Rating Risk Rating Risk Rating Normal Season, No Alert Level : regular district operations Emergency Planning, Alert Level : enhanced larval detection and control, public health officials notified, increased disease surveillance, more public outreach Epidemic Conditions, Emergency Level : full media campaign, physicians and veterinarians alerted, detection and investigations of human cases, continue enhanced larval surveillance and control August 2014 West Nile Virus Activity

5 Page 5 Controlling Invasive Cordgrass: a Beneficial Partnership For the past ten years, San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District has partnered with the Coastal Conservancy to eradicate an invasive species of cordgrass, Spartina densiflora. This plant is native to South America, but is believed to have been introduced to California during the importation of lumber from Chile. It has since hybridized with native cordgrass species, making it difficult to positively identify. Invasive and hybrid cordgrass not only crowd out native plant species, but destroy vital wildlife habitat. It is estimated that, if unchecked, invasive cordgrass would currently cover more than 70,000 acres of shoreline along San Francisco Bay. Species impacted include the endangered California clapper rail and salt marsh mouse, as well as the more than 1 million migratory shorebirds that depend on the bay s unvegetated mudflats for food each year. A typical Spartina growth pattern. The circles are called clones because every plant within each spherical growth is genetically identical. Photo from Coastal Conservancy. To reduce invasive and hybrid cordgrass in the bay, San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control technicians team up with biologists from the Coastal Conservancy. While the biologist enters the status of each invasive cordgrass plant into a database, the technicians apply a mixture of three products: an herbicide, a surfactant, and a dye that makes it possible to see which areas have already been treated. The mixture can be applied by backpack, truck-mounted sprayer, airboat, or Argo ATV. San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control s participation in this project serves two purposes. First, the project generates income for the District through grants. An aerial view of a site just after treatment. The blue seen here is indicator dye that tells us where product has been applied to prevent repeat applications. Photo from Coastal Conservancy. Second, eradicating invasive cordgrass contributes to mosquito control. As the plant grows, it chokes off channels in the marsh that would normally allow water to drain at low tide. This allows water to stand and creates mosquito breeding habitat. Eradicating invasive cordgrass returns the marsh to its natural state, promoting a healthy ecosystem and protecting human health. A salt marsh harvest mouse sitting in a native plant called pickleweed, two species impacted by invasive Spartina. Photo from Coastal Conservancy.

6 Page 6 District Balance Sheet - Consolidated Funds as of August 31, 2014

7 Page 7 District Profit & Loss - Consolidated Funds for the month ended August 31, 2014

8 Page 8 San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District Page 1 San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District Anaplasmosis The District received a report this past month of a human case of Anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease. The patient likely picked up a tick while hiking in Huddart Park, in Woodside. Anaplasmosis is less common in California than Lyme Disease or Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. However, for the past few years there have been a couple of cases each year that were probably acquired within parks in the County. Following a human case, District staff typically work with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to collect ticks for testing at parks that the infected individual visited. The ticks are tested by CDPH to determine the infection rate in ticks. The District lab does not currently test ticks for the bacteria that causes Anaplasmosis, but can utilize the current RT-PCR machine for testing in the future if necessary. The symptoms of Anaplasmosis are flu-like, including fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. Onset of symptoms is 1-2 weeks after transmission from a tick bite. The disease is rarely fatal, and can be treated with antibiotics. Residents should take the following precautions against tick bites: stay on trails use repellent with DEET or Permethrin in tick infested areas check yourself and children thoroughly for ticks after leaving tick infested areas Anaplasmosis is transmitted by Ixodes pacificus, the western black-legged tick. The same species also transmits bacteria that cause Lyme Disease and some types of Relapsing Fever. Public Education and Outreach Update San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District Protecting Public Health Since Rollins Rd. Burlingame, CA (650) info@smcmad.org SMCMVCD s new Public Health Education and Outreach Officer, Megan Caldwell, began work on Sept. 15th. The District is in the process of transitioning a variety of duties to this position, including creating and distributing press releases, responding to inquiries from media and city officials, updating brochures, coordinating outreach events, and scheduling educational presentations. Spark Creative Design has been chosen to complete the District rebranding. The new District logo and other branding materials will be chosen by key district staff and the Public Outreach and Environmental Committee, with the final recommendation presented to the board for approval in November. Work on this project will coincide with the District website redesign, providing a new, professional image for the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District. In September, SMCMVCD participated in two fairs: Brilliant!Science Pandemic at California Academy of Sciences and Pacific Coast FogFest in Pacifica. Both events were well-attended. Visit us on the web at: Visitors view live mosquitoes at Brilliant!Science Pandemic. District Report: September 2014 Table of Contents District News 1 Service Requests and Acres Treated 2 CO2 Traps 2 West Nile Virus 3 West Nile Virus Risk Assessment 4 Operations Report 5 Balance Sheet 6 Profit and Loss 7 Anaplasmosis 8 Public Education and Outreach Update 8 District staff collect a saliva sample from a red-tailed hawk at the Peninsula Human Society to test for West Nile Virus. District News On Sept.18th, SMCMVCD fogged areas of Foster City, Belmont, Redwood City, Redwood Shores, and San Mateo in response to the discovery of mosquitoes positive for West Nile Virus. This fogging resulted in a 91% reduction in adult mosquito populations, and subsequent samples tested negative for West Nile Virus. On Sept.2nd, SMCMVCD fogged areas of Menlo Park and Redwood City in response to the discovery of mosquitoes positive for West Nile Virus. This fogging resulted in a 89% reduction in adult mosquito populations, and subsequent samples tested negative for West Nile Virus. Monitoring for West Nile Virus and Aedes aegypti in this area continues. CDPH reports one case of Lyme disease and three cases of Dengue fever in San Mateo County in September. All were believed to be acquired outside of California. CDPH reports one case of Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis that is believed to be acquired in San Mateo County. Over the weekend of Sept. 27th/28th, SMCMVCD participated in two fairs: Brilliant!Science Pandemic at California Academy of Sciences and Pacific Coast FogFest. Both events were well-attended. Helicopter applications of dry larvicidal treatment for Culex species were conducted at three locations on September 2nd. Airboat treatments for Spartina at Bair Island continue successfully. Technician Theresa Brickley left the district to pursue work in her area of interest, while Megan Caldwell joined the staff as Public Health Education and Outreach Officer. The district asks residents to call in to report dead birds or tree squirrels. Specimens that appear to have been dead for less than 24 hours and are in good condition will be tested for WNV. Residents should contact the state WNV hotline at 877-WNV-BIRD ( ). Reports can also be made online at