In Alameda County, the Vector Control Services District conducts mosquito surveillance and control only in the City of Albany. The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District has the jurisdiction for the rest of the County.
Our District participates in the statewide California Arbovirus surveillance system that is collaborated between the California Department of Public Health, University of California at Davis (Center for Vector-borne Diseases) and the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California to detect West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.
West Nile virus:
The District placed a specialized trap called EVS (encephalitis vector surveillance) traps to collect adult mosquitoes from March to October each year. These battery powered devices use dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) as an attractant, and operate a fan that collects live adult mosquitoes into a bag. The District currently has 11 regular locations throughout Albany where adult surveillance occurs. Each location is trapped every two weeks, and female mosquitoes of Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens collected are tested for West Nile virus at our Vector Control Laboratory.
Zika virus:
Our District participates with other State mosquito and vector control districts in implementing a surveillance program for two invasive (nonnative) mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus that are potential vectors for Zika virus. Because of their unique behavior, these two species require specialized traps, which are strategically placed within City boundaries. These 10 traps either collect the live eggs produced by an adult, or trap a water-seeking adult onto a sticky band. So far, no invasive mosquitoes were collected in the traps yet.