Short Bites Monthly

Your digest for June 2023.

A hand holding a smartphone displaying a picture of a mosquito, with "June Update" text prominently featured.

Short Bites Monthly ensures that our data as a public health agency remains transparent to the public and to people who are interested in our mission.

The image features the phrase "IN YOUR COMMUNITY" alongside colorful house icons against a light background.

Events

  • Thank you to the all of the cities who booked us up for the Summer months. We are excited to serve your community!
A group of older adults gathers around a speaker in a community space, engaged in discussion or a presentation.
Image of Director of Communications presenting to the Duarte Historical Museum Club
An outdoor event featuring a booth discussing mosquito repellent application, with attendees engaging and learning.
Image of District staff working a community event in Monrovia

Outreach Efforts

July outreach diagram
Image of our outreach efforts this month
  • The District’s Spring swimming pool condition confirmation efforts have resolved nearly 75% of the 3,220 non-functional swimming pools.
  • The District continues Enhanced Neighborhood Support (ENS) in several neighborhoods to identify and eliminate habitats to reduce the threat of disease.
A person inspects a plant pot with a flashlight, examining the area around it in a garden setting.
Image of an Enhanced Neighborhood Support property inspection
  • The District continues to provide Bite Prevention Kits for cities to use at their community events.The box itself is an educational tool that is unique to our District.
The image shows a workspace with boxes of wipes, packets, and informational brochures being organized.
Image of Bite Prevention Kits being assembled for District city distribution
  • Due to all of the water from the Winter rains, the current climate is perfect for mosquito breeding.
  • We are seeing mosquito abundance in certain cities that pose risk for diseases, like West Nile virus and have alerted those communities.
A construction worker and a woman converse outside a charming house, discussing plans by a utility pole.
Image of Outreach Assistant educating field worker on West Nile virus disease prevention
text, chalk board

EcoHealth Newsletter

Read June Newsletter

Citizen Science

  • Our 44 Vector Inspectors of the Year (V.I.Y.) have been awarded for their dedication and commitment to mosquito surveillance and population reduction.
A woman in a blue sweater and mask examines illustrated cards in an office setting, with colorful supplies nearby.
Image of Education Specialist preparing materials for the last classroom visit of the year
  • We’re preparing all Citizen Science program materials! In the Fall, students will receive kits that we assemble ourselves, which brings our lab tools to your classroom.

Check Out Our Citizen Science Programs

may include: medical kit, mosquitoes, text
Image of G.R.I.D. kits being prepared for Fall

Digital Communication

  • West Nile virus (WNV) is the most pervasive threat in California and is transmitted by local Culex mosquitoes.
  • Since WNV is endemic to the San Gabriel Valley, we work hard to prevent local disease outbreaks.

Read West Nile Virus Updates

A man and a woman are engaged in a discussion at a desk with computers, working on a project or presentation.
Image of Communications staff editing a Summer Video Campaign
  • This month, we worked our seasonal video campaign that focuses on repellent education and Midge awareness during the Summer months.
  • We also closed our after the rain campaign push.
  • Since the Bite Prevention Kits are unique to our District, we’ve connected with high risk cities to supply repellent wipes for their community events.
The image features text that reads "IN DISEASE CONTROL & MONITORING" beside an illustration of a microscope with a virus graphic.

We continue to focus on maintaining essential vector surveillance including mosquito trap routes, arbovirus testing, providing weekly data to the District, and maintaining the mosquito fish and mosquito colonies.

A person in gloves examines samples under a microscope in a lab setting, with recording materials on the table.
Image of our Surveillance staff calculating mosquito species abundance

Data Collection

The image shows a map of the area around West Covina, California, with blue markers indicating various locations or data points.
Image of average mosquitoes per trap by sampling location and by city/community. The size of the bubbles on the map reflects the relative numbers of mosquitoes caught at each trap.
A pie chart shows species distribution, with Cx quinquefasciatus at 95.25% and Cs incidens at 2.49%, among others.
This chart depicts the overall abundance of mosquitoes collected during the current reporting period. Species listed on the far right are sorted by total amount collected during this reporting period.
The image is a bar graph showing the number of traps set: GRVD (140), BGSENT (75), and CO2 (11).
This chart depicts the total number/types of traps set during this reporting period.
  • After anticipating an increase in adult mosquito activity, we’ve enhanced our trapping to monitor high risk breeding areas.
  • Due to the increase in temperature, we can expect an influx of mosquitoes.
  • Remember to wear repellent when outside and Tip ‘N Toss stagnant wate
Tip, toss, protect

 

Before you go, check out the links we love this month …

The image features bold text that says "LINKS WE LOVE" on an orange background.
Woman flipping hair
Planting a Garden that Reinforces SEL 
  • Summer is a great time to create little ecosystems with our students. Enhance their sensory learning experience by offering them a chance to explore bite-free garden therapy.

Learn More

Bite Back Travelers: Dominican Republic 
  • Need travel packing advice when it comes to mosquitoes? This blog post has it all for those who are ready to Tip, Toss, and Travel.

Learn More

Malaria in Texas and Florida: What You Need to Know 
  • If you have travel plans this Summer, be sure to keep up with mosquito-borne disease news. Don’t forget to pack repellent no matter the destination.

Learn More

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Communications Department Mission Statement:

Increase transparency and credibility through multi-media dialogue in order to engage and motivate internal, local, regional, statewide, and nationwide stakeholders to take action and become public health agents of change in their communities.

 

🖋 Written by Ally Gaspar, Outreach Assistant