The Orange County Vector Control District has several alerts posted that include West Nile Virus, flea-borne typhus and rats, and a notice that asks, "Are you raising mosquitoes in your backyard?"
Stanton Vector Control Board Member Al Ethans, who is serving Stanton as Mayor Pro tem, said that insects can be carried from birds, horses or dogs and then carried to humans.
The Orange County Vector Control District has several alerts posted that include West Nile Virus, flea-borne typhus and rats, and a notice that asks, "Are you raising mosquitoes in your backyard?"
Stanton Vector Control Board Member Al Ethans, who is serving Stanton as Mayor Pro tem, said that insects can be carried from birds, horses or dogs and then carried to humans.
"The Orange County Vector is instrumental in controlling all vector outside of a residence such as mosquitoes, killer bees, examining dead birds for virus and diseased pets," said Ethans. "Vector sprays and controls waterways under the city and wetlands by the ocean or any water area such as flood control drainage and manhole covers that are infested. They walk and/or drive and spray as necessary."
Right now, according to Ethans, the county is in the high season of West Nile Virus.
"We have had two fatalities this summer and approximately 40 known infections in humans," he said.
The year of 2014 is on record as the worst year for West Nile Virus, according to Vector Control.
More about mosquitoes: The mosquito's life is a foint-point cycle from the egg raft, larva, pupa, adult emerging from the pupa and then the adult.
According to the Orange County Vector Control, all mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle and it only takes seven days to complete that cycle. Mosquitoes don't develop in grass or shrubbery even though the flying adults rest on shrubs and grass.
"Any water standing for a week can allow mosquitoes to develop," Ethans said.
Only the female mosquito bites to get blood for a meal, where she uses the protein to produce her eggs, but both the female and male mosquitoes feed on nectar and other juices from plants.
The female mosquito can live as long as three weeks during the summer and several months in the winter, in order to lay her eggs the following spring.
Vector Control officials say there are more than 20 species of mosquitoes in Orange County and that most of those produced in the county are in residential backyards in standing water.
Vector Control assists the 34 cities within Orange County in controlling disease carriers such as bugs, rats and insects.
A vector is described as an organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from an animal or plant to another animal or plant.
Residents pay for the protection of the Vector Control through an annual fee of about $6 per residence, which is collected through the county for chemicals and utilities. The money pays for the entire organization.
There are several traps used, according to requirements.
"Vector Control will set a trap for any vector as necessary," Ethans said. "Each trap has its own chemical, which is set and collected when it's the right time, according to the needs of each city, which is mostly field mice in this area."
Also, if residents find fire ants in their yards (generally in the grass), service is available from Vector Control at no extra charge for the exterior of the property. When fire ants do get in the grass, they have been known to bite and kill some small animals, because the bite can make the animal ill.
Vector board members, from each city, are appointed by the Mayor and that appointment is renewed or appointed each year.
Ethans has served on the Vector Control board for 18 years; he has served Stanton as mayor five times and is scheduled to be mayor again in 2015, which will be voted on by the City Council. For information about Orange County Vector Control, visit www.ocvcd.org or call 714-971-2421.
