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Short Bites Monthly

Your digest for May 2025.

Hand holding a phone with a mosquito image, text "May Update" beside it.
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.
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We continue to provide the highest level of protection from vectors and vector-borne diseases to reduce outbreaks of human diseases in San Gabriel Valley.

District Communication

A person examining insects inside a mesh container using a tool.
Image of our Vector Ecologist marking male mosquitoes in the insectary.

As mosquito season gains momentum, our District has been hard at work. This month, we’ve focused on developing innovative and sustainable mosquito control strategies, in addition to traditional methods. We’ve also collaborated with cities that have higher mosquito abundance to raise awareness and educate residents.  

Preventing mosquito-borne diseases is a shared responsibility. Remember that simple actions like tipping and tossing stagnant water, and using mosquito repellent go a long way in protecting our neighborhoods.

Outreach Overview

May outreach: Social Media 25,706 engagements, In-Person 591, Newsletter 498 readers, EcoHealth 516 students.
Image of outreach stats for the past month.
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We continue to maintain essential vector surveillance including mosquito traps for disease testing, providing weekly data to the District, and maintaining mosquito fish.

 Mosquito Species Overview

A person with a cap is working at a desk with dual monitors showing maps, using a computer, tablet, and keyboard.
Image of our Vector Control Specialist surveying aerial data of permanent sources in the San Gabriel Valley.  

We are currently analyzing aerial data across the San Gabriel Valley to identify permanent water sources, such as swimming pools, that may pose a risk to public health. This surveillance allows us to detect neglected or non-functional pools that could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. With more than 2,300 pools to monitor, our District relies on resident cooperation to help reduce mosquito populations.

A map with blue circles indicating locations around areas like Pasadena, West Covina, El Monte, and Pomona, with highways marked.
Image of this month's mosquito activity by latitude and longitude. Bubble size indicates mosquito abundunce per trap.

Our Surveillance team regularly sets traps throughout the San Gabriel Valley to monitor mosquito activity and detect mosquito-borne diseases. We've also increased efforts in the Eaton burn area, using data from these traps to guide targeted mosquito control actions.

Pie chart showing mosquito species distribution, with Cx quinquefasciatus at 80.1%, followed by Cx erythrothorax at 10.27%.
Image of this month’s mosquito trap collection by species throughout San Gabriel Valley.

In addition to mosquito traps, public reports of dead birds serve as an early warning system for West Nile virus. As testing begins for 2025, your reports are more important than ever. If you see a dead bird, report it—your action can help us detect West Nile virus early and protect the health of your community.

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We continue to provide excellent science education services and reduce mosquitoes in homes and schools within the San Gabriel Valley.

EcoHealth Highlights

As our EcoHealth Spring Classroom program wraps up for the season we’d like to take a moment to celebrate some incredible achievements from this spring:

Left: Group receives a certificate in a meeting room. Right: Container with liquid and insects on a classroom desk.
Image of the 2024 Public Health Teacher of the Year (Left) and image of her students participating in EcoHealth Community Science (Right).

We’re proud to announce that a total of 232 students earned the title of Vector Inspector of the Year through their participation in our GRID program. These dedicated students monitored their properties, conducted valuable surveillance work, and submitted data that helped support our public health efforts.

A special congratulations goes to Mrs. Lesley Allizadeh of Lone Hill Middle School, our 2024 EcoHealth Public School Teacher of the Year! Since joining the program, Mrs. Allizadeh has trained a fellow educator and inspired more than 800 students with her passion for education.

District Resources to Share

Our Response to the Eaton Fire 
Eaton Area Mosquito Control Support text over a scenic landscape.

To protect public health following recovery efforts, we're actively preventing unmaintained pools and other sources from breeding mosquitoes that can create a public health risk for mosquito-borne diseases.

Learn More

Mosquito control measures so far successful in Altadena 
A reporter interviews a woman against a colorful wall mural with "Pasadena" text.

See how our mosquito control efforts with unmaintained pools are going.

Watch Now

Share our Spring Resource Page 
Man walking a dog on a suburban sidewalk, with houses and trees in the background.

Find out why mosquitoes thrive in your community. 

View Now

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Check Out Our Blog!

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 and Derek Garcia