Short Bites Monthly
Your digest for July 2023.
Short Bites Monthly ensures that our data as a public health agency remains transparent to the public and to people who are interested in our mission.
Events
- Thank you to the all of the cities and event organizers who booked us up through August.
- This month, our repellent booth made National Night Out events a hit!
- Our repellent booth focuses on educating residents on proper repellent use and providing repellent samples to stay protected while enjoying local events.
Outreach Efforts
- We have detected West Nile virus (WNV) activity in birds and mosquitoes in several locations throughout the district.
Follow West Nile Virus Updates
- We have responded to WNV with enhanced investigation and control measures. Our efforts include increased surveillance, public education, and control to reduce the threat of West Nile virus human infection.
- Some communities have addressed concerns about black flies, please go to our website for more bite prevention information.
EcoHealth Newsletter
- EcoHealth Newsletter informs you of professional development opportunities, FREE available NGSS- aligned programs, & the latest teacher resources for you to use in the classroom.
Citizen Science
- At headquarters, we’re working on Citizen Science program materials! Teachers can still sign up to have their class participate in this awesome, FREE, and hands-on science experience.
Check Out Our Citizen Science Programs
- We also collaborated with a local school to film an instructional video for one of our Citizen Science programs. These students created fun and informational film footage that our Education Specialists are using to create engaging program content.
Little Champions Preschool Program
- Our Little Champions Preschool Program is having a moment. Our pre & post-assessments are showing a 350% knowledge increase about mosquitoes and their diseases.
Digital Communication
- West Nile virus (WNV) is the most pervasive threat in California and is transmitted by local Culex mosquitoes.
- Since WNV is endemic to the San Gabriel Valley, we work hard to prevent local disease outbreaks.
- This month, we went viral! One of Ada Eez’s Instagram reels has gone viral with a current count of over 2K likes and 20K views. The reel took advantage of a trending audio and meme while also using mosquito messaging.
We continue to focus on maintaining essential vector surveillance including mosquito trap routes, arbovirus testing, providing weekly data to the District, and maintaining the mosquito fish and mosquito colonies.
Data Collection
- This month, enhanced surveillance areas identified high trap counts with positive mosquito samples.
- We will be continue to follow up on the positive mosquito sites to monitor disease transmission.
Safety Reminders
Before you go, check out the links we love this month …
- If you enjoy being outside without getting mosquito bites, it's time to elevate your ecosystem to create a bite-free yard.
- In a new study on truck-mounted mosquito-control sprays, the proportion of local mosquito populations that could potentially carry West Nile virus decreased after treatments.
- Whether you buy a rain barrel from a garden store or make your own device, every system will require specific modification, maintenance, and regular inspection to keep mosquitoes from growing inside.
Want to receive our monthly digest in an email? Sign up to get monthly email alerts 📧 through our Bite Back Program.
Communications Department Mission Statement:
Increase transparency and credibility through multi-media dialogue in order to engage and motivate internal, local, regional, statewide, and nationwide stakeholders to take action and become public health agents of change in their communities.
🖋 Written by Ally Gaspar, Outreach Assistant