West Nile Virus Surveillance Collaboration

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) Mosquito and Vector Control Program (MVCP) along with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Division provide services that are dedicated to improving the quality of life, reducing and preventing potential public health risks, and ensuring public health and safety for all residents and visitors of San Bernardino County. In 2012, the spiraling economic down-turn and high foreclosure rates caused many residential pools to be abandoned and unmaintained, consequently creating ideal breeding conditions for West Nile virus (WNV) transmitting mosquitoes. These challenging circumstances contributed to the largest WNV outbreak since 2002 with national record breaking highs of over 5,000 human cases. With the prevalence of WNV rapidly increasing throughout the country, MVCP collaborated with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation Division in utilizing aerial surveillance to identify and reduce mosquito breeding hazards by targeting unmaintained (green) swimming pools in residential neighborhoods. This collaboration allowed MVCP to efficiently inspect, treat, and abate the mosquito breeding hazards in previously unknown locations, thus greatly reducing the potential prevalence of WNV.