Mission
The mission of the Vector Control Services District is to prevent human disease, injury, and discomfort to the Alameda County population by controlling insects, rodents, and other vectors along with eliminating causal environmental conditions.
History
The Alameda County Vector Control Services District was established in June 1984 as a County Service Area (VC 1984-1). It is funded primarily by an annual service charge on real property based on usage. There are approximately 1.3 million people in the 759 square miles of Alameda County.
The District serves all of the Cities in Alameda County, as well as the unincorporated area. In the City of Berkeley, their Vector Control Services Section is under the Division of Community Health Protection, Health and Human Services Department in Berkeley (510.981.5310).
What it a Vector?
The term "Vector" is defined as any animal capable of transmitting the causative agent of human disease, or capable of producing human discomfort or injury. Vectors include but are not limited to fleas, ticks, mites, rats, bats, flies and other insects.
Ticks
can vector Lyme Disease, as well as several other diseases.
Fleas
can vector Plague.
Flies
can vector many filth diseases such as Salmonella.