Middle school students complete mosquito surveillance, community science program

West Covina, Calif. (June 21, 2024) — The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District (SGVMVCD/District) proudly awarded 306 Vector Inspectors of the Year (VIY) from the cities of Rosemead, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, and West Covina for their participation in a mosquito surveillance program. Through Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D., students use the same tools as vector ecologists to determine the presence or absence of invasive Aedes mosquitoes.

Aedes mosquitoes are vectors for dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya which can circulate in San Gabriel Valley communities if mosquitoes remain unchecked. The students’ actions on their properties, during, and beyond the conclusion of the surveillance project, protect their entire neighborhood.

SGVMVCD Education Specialist Carol Anne Hagele stated, “By participating in Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D., middle school students make valuable contributions to public health efforts within their community while fostering a culture of scientific inquiry and civic engagement among our youth.”

VIY recipients remained engaged for an entire academic year. Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D students enrolled in the program, prepared their property for mosquito surveillance, and submitted two types of surveillance data within the first six weeks. Additionally, students submitted stagnant water samples to look for evidence of aquatic stages of mosquitoes and lure papers for evidence of egg-laying Aedes mosquitoes. The VIY award recipients took this project further, by continuing to report data through their 1-, 3-, and 6-months check-in surveys.

This program encourages students to become agents of change in their local communities. “It is extremely important and worthwhile for students and families to know how easy it is to prevent or decrease mosquitoes in their neighborhoods.” said Ravi Dev Anandhan, a teacher from Sierra Madre Middle School. “The sustained effort and enthusiasm of the Vector Inspector of the Year award recipients to keep their community safe from mosquito-borne disease deserves recognition and praise,” said Hagele.

Registration is now open for fall 2024 Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. at www.vectoreducation.org. For more information on our free programs, residents can contact the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District at 626-814-9466, online at SGVmosquito.org, or on social media: Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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About EcoHealth Vector Education

EcoHealth Vector Education is a K–12 program provided by the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District designed to promote simple, healthy living to reduce mosquito-borne diseases in our cities through FREE California Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS)-aligned programs.

MEDIA CONTACT

Anais Medina Diaz, Director of Communications

amedinadiaz@sgvmosquito.org | 626-814-9466