HAYWARD, CALIF. – The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District has found four additional Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Pleasanton after placing traps in the areas south of the Amador Valley neighborhood. The mosquitoes have been found inside and nearby the Alameda County Fairgrounds and in the neighborhoods to the northeast. The district is working with Alameda County Fairgrounds staff to enhance monitoring and treatment at the Fairgrounds. See below for the map of affected areas, all properties in the red zone will need to be inspected by district staff.

Initially the district found a single invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito in the Amador Valley neighborhood of Pleasanton on Wednesday October 8th in the late afternoon.  Aedes aegypti is an invasive mosquito that can vector diseases such as dengue, Zika and yellow fever. Once they establish in a neighborhood they are extremely difficult to get rid of. The district initiated the invasive Aedes response plan, and deployed staff to the affected area on Thursday, October 9th.

The response plan requires staff to go to all properties in the area and inspect for mosquitoes and possible production sites. Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water, as they need water to complete their life cycle. Mosquitoes wiggle and tumble in water during the second and third stages of their life cycle. To learn more about the life cycle, see this link: https://www.mosquitoes.org/life-cycle. If there is no standing water, mosquitoes cannot reproduce, therefore it is vital that every possible location of standing water is removed or treated.  

“The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District appreciates the help of residents who allowed inspections on their property,” says General Manager Ryan Clausnitzer.  “District staff have inspected 25% of the properties the initial detection area. Staff have been in the area conducting inspections over the weekend, and will continue to inspect properties over the next few weeks.”  When district staff inspect properties they look for mosquitoes or possible mosquito habitats. Staff welcome questions and can answer any mosquito concerns. All staff will be in uniform, with a logo on their shirts, and have additional identification. If residents have questions, go to the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement website, www.mosquitoes.org

The district encourages all residents and visitors to call the office if they are experiencing daytime biting or ankle biting mosquitoes in Pleasanton. District staff encourage residents to find any source of standing water, even as small as a bottle cap, and to dump it out and scrub the surface. Scrubbing with a strong brush and a 5% bleach solution will destroy any Aedes aegypti eggs.

District staff will be in the neighborhood between Crestline Rd in the north, Santa Rita/ Main St. on the east, and to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in the south.