Invasive Aedes mosquitoes are not native to San
Mateo County, California, or even North America. They do not
belong in our ecosystems, and they can make people very
uncomfortable because they bite during the day and even bite
indoors. More importantly, they are a risk to human health
because they can carry diseases that make people very sick, like
Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and yellow fever.
Mosquitoes might seem like an annoying nuisance, but did you know
they can transmit diseases that can make you sick? It only takes
one bite from a mosquito infected with a disease like West Nile
virus to put you at risk for serious illness.
Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance! They can carry and transmit
diseases that can make people very sick. Even when they don’t
transmit disease, their bites may be uncomfortable or become
infected.
Controlling mosquitoes interrupts the disease transmission cycle
and protects people from disease.
Even when the risk of mosquito-borne illness is low here in San
Mateo County, you may be at higher risk if you travel to other
areas of the state, country, or world. If you’re infected with a
mosquito-borne illness while traveling, there is a risk you could
pass it on to local mosquitoes once you return home, and a local
outbreak could occur. These tips will help you protect yourself
and others from mosquito-borne illnesses during and after travel.
