Santa Clara County has confirmed the presence of the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito in a fourth San Jose neighborhood, specifically near Cortez Avenue and Orlando Drive. These aggressive, day-biting mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases, including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Officials are stepping up containment measures and urging the community to be proactive in preventing mosquito breeding.

The Growing Threat Edgar Nolasco, Director of the County of Santa Clara Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, highlighted the urgent need for action: “The threat posed by Aedes aegypti is growing, and we need everyone to pitch in now to prevent this day-biting mosquito from becoming established in Santa Clara County.”

Residents and businesses are being asked to check their properties for standing water, which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Common sources include buckets, pet dishes, plant pots, and even bottle caps. Notably, Aedes aegypti eggs can survive in dry conditions for over a year, making it crucial to scrub and clean potential breeding sites thoroughly.

Containment Efforts Santa Clara County’s Vector Control District is actively working to curb the mosquito population through trapping, property inspections, and larvicide treatments. Upcoming efforts include wide-area larvicide spraying around Cortez Avenue and Orlando Drive using truck-mounted equipment. If necessary, officials may also implement adult-mosquito-control treatments. Similar pesticide spraying has been conducted in areas where mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been detected.

Community Involvement & Prevention Tips Residents are advised to protect themselves and their families by:

• Using insect repellents, especially during the day when Aedes mosquitoes are most active.
• Wearing long-sleeve shirts, pants, socks, and shoes outdoors.
• Ensuring window and door screens are in good condition.
• Properly screening rain barrels, cisterns, and irrigation drains.
• Repairing leaky faucets and broken sprinklers to avoid creating mosquito-friendly conditions.
• Avoiding overwatering plants and keeping the water level in swimming pools properly maintained.

It’s also important to clean and scrub containers with hot soapy water or bleach, allowing them to dry for at least a day to eliminate any mosquito eggs.

Working together, we can minimize the threat posed by these invasive mosquitoes and protect our community's health.