(261) Mosquito Abatement Fund

The San Benito Mosquito Abatement Program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our community by providing effective and environmentally sound mosquito control and disease prevention through timely and efficient surveillance, control and public awareness programs. The San Benito County Mosquito Abatement Program (“Program”) is a division within the San Benito County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office in San Benito County. The program’s primary function is mosquito surveillance and control following Integrated Pest Management practices incorporating public education, biological control, source reduction and least toxic pesticides that have minimal impact on people, wildlife, and the environment. Surveillance includes sampling immature mosquitoes in water bodies, monitoring populations of adult mosquitoes using traps and utilizing a sentinel chicken flock for early warning. Treatments are focused on the immature, aquatic stage of the mosquito because this approach is the most effective and environmentally sound.

• Resume outreach at community events, Farmer’s Market, National Night Out and the Community Health Fair

• Resume outreach to local schools emphasizing the importance of STEM

• Increased the number of traps strategically placed throughout the district to monitor populations and species.

• Two staff members with Vector Control Certification

• West Nile Virus continues to be the primary concern for this region.

• Monitoring for non-California native species of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus).

• Provide assistance to RMA/Planning for mitigation measures of retention basins of new housing developments.

• Utilizing social media for the dissemination information.

• Continue to employ protection and prevention methods to ensure lowest level of public health threat.

• Continue providing outreach and education by participating in community events.

• Add Program Manager