In Los Angeles, the established threat is West Nile virus, spread by Culex mosquitoes. The bigger problem is that the invasive Aedes mosquito is now common across the area, which can transmit dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, diseases California historically only saw in returning travelers.
Mosquitoes, for the most part, leave behind only itchy welts. But that’s not all they can leave behind, and if you’ve seen the news lately, you already know this to be the case.
West Nile virus is the headliner. It’s carried by the common Culex mosquito and the virus itself lives in birds. Sometimes mosquitoes carry it from birds to people where, for the most part, nothing happens. A smaller percentage of people end up with mild flu-like illness. A smaller share still end up with serious neurological disease, with older adults at the highest risk. But it’s not something you can ignore, as LA has a mild climate that means you could catch West Nile virus any time of year.
The newer development is the invasive Aedes mosquitoes, the same ankle-biters that have spread across Southern California over the past decade-plus. These are efficient carriers of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Until recently, these diseases only showed up in California as travel-related cases, but the state has recorded its first locally acquired cases of dengue in recent years. This is not an issue that exists only abroad any more.
The plain fact is that mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world, and it’s not close. Mainly, this is because of malaria, which kills hundreds of thousands of people globally. Thankfully, we don’t have issues of nearly that scale in the US, but mosquitoes nevertheless remain a serious public health issue. It’s not just about comfort.
If you're tired of swatting and wondering what each bite might carry, Mosquito Squad of Los Angeles can help. Mosquito Squad reduces the mosquito population around your home, helping protect your family with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
