San Mateo County to spray Redwood City and North Fair Oaks for invasive Aedes aegypti

San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District said it would conduct a truck-mounted mosquito treatment between 4 and 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, in portions of Redwood City and North Fair Oaks where invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been found, weather permitting.

The district, based in Burlingame, said the treatment is meant to protect public health and slow further spread of the invasive mosquitoes. District staff have spent recent weeks identifying and removing standing water and tracking larvae and adult mosquitoes in the affected neighborhoods, the release said.

Truck-mounted equipment will release a fine mist of DeltaGard, a pesticide registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for mosquito control and applied according to label directions, the district said.

Laboratory Director Angie Nakano said, "Since early September, our staff have found invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes on multiple properties in North Fair Oaks and now in the Redwood Oaks neighborhood of Redwood City."

The treatment area covers portions of North Fair Oaks and Redwood Oaks in Redwood City; a map is posted at smcmvcd.org/adult-mosquito-control-updates, the district said. Residents with questions can call 650-344-8592.

The district said it will collect mosquitoes before and after the application to evaluate effectiveness. Residents do not need to stay inside or close doors and windows; ultra-low volume droplets remain in the air no longer than 30 minutes, the district said. People with outdoor fishponds or bee hives should cover them during the treatment.

District Manager Brian Weber said staff have visited more than 1,000 properties in the area and thanked residents for helping inspectors reach every property. He said the mosquitoes turned up on multiple properties across a wider area than expected, and that controlling adults should help slow and hopefully prevent further spread.

Beyond the adulticide spray, the district said it will keep treating immature mosquitoes through its integrated pest management program, with technicians inspecting standing water and breeding sources countywide.

See something we should correct? Read our corrections policy.