Latest news with #LuzMariaRobles
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New invasive mosquito pilot program launching in July
( — The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District is launching a new invasive mosquito control program next month in South Natomas. The sterile male mosquito pilot program aims to combat the spread of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, reduce mosquito populations, and protect residents' health. The program starts in July and runs through October. Investigation underway after dead body found wrapped in blanket in Sacramento 'Invasive mosquitoes have been spreading rapidly within our area,' said Luz Maria Robles, Public Information Officer for the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. 'Over the last few years, we've definitely been picking more and more of them up in our traps. So we've been finding more adults as well as more immature mosquitoes in those small sources where they breed.' The spread of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which was initially brought to California in a shipment of bamboo plants, is surging in Northern California. Allowing them to breed, stagnant pools of water. Flower pots, bird baths, and outdoor dog bowls, for example, can become breeding grounds for these pests. How does ICE know who to deport? 'A container as small as a bottle cap of water would be enough to breed these mosquitoes,' said Robles. As populations of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes grow, so does the chance of contracting dangerous and even deadly diseases. Deputies seize nearly 7,000 marijuana plants in Northern California drug bust 'They pose a health threat for dengue, zika, and chikungunya,' Robles said. 'Now that we have these mosquitoes very well established in our area, we could see locally acquired cases of dengue.' That's why the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District is launching this program. Robles said mosquito control staff will release sterile male mosquitoes twice a week in South Natomas once the program begins. 'We'll be releasing sterile males that have a bacteria called Wolbachia,' she said. 'When they mate with the wild females in the area, then their eggs won't hatch. So it's a way of reducing mosquito populations over time.' These sterile male mosquitoes don't bite either, easing concerns for South Natomas residents already experiencing swarms of mosquitoes. 'You have to put up, like, you know, like shades, or you have to put up a curtain, you know what I mean? Like, so the mosquitoes don't get around or irritate you. It's a problem,' said area resident Jalen Garrison. 'Now I feel more safer with them combating, you know, what was just a nuisance like 3 or 4 years ago,' said Garrison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Sacramento to release 400,000 sterile mosquitoes to fight off invasive ones
Sacramento aims to fight off invasive mosquitoes by releasing thousands more Sacramento aims to fight off invasive mosquitoes by releasing thousands more Sacramento aims to fight off invasive mosquitoes by releasing thousands more SACRAMENTO — Sacramento is launching a new tactic to stop the spread of invasive mosquitoes that can infect people with Zika and dengue fever. The plan, which was just approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, is to release 400,000 live mosquitoes into the environment. "We need ways to combat these mosquitoes, which are posing a public health threat," said Luz Maria Robles with the Sacramento Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. The swarm will initially be released across 100 acres of Sacramento's south Natomas neighborhood, which has been the biggest breeding ground. To ensure the mosquitoes are safe for the public, only sterile males will be used in the program. "Male mosquitoes do not bite, so while you might see more mosquitoes than usual, we want those males to mate with the wild females because once they do, their eggs will not hatch," Robles said. Fresno's consolidated mosquito district was the first in California to use this technique, and they say data shows it is safe and effective. "We had tremendous success with that program in the areas where we did release," said Jodi Holeman, manager of the Fresno abatement district. "We got in excess of 98% suppression." If successful in south Natomas, releases could occur in other Sacramento neighborhoods, Robles said. The Sacramento Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District says it will cost about $33,000 to purchase the mosquitoesnd the releases are scheduled to begin on july 8th.
