September 2025 Newsletter
Staff highlights - Vanessa and Eric
We are fortunate to have dedicated staff passionate about protecting San Mateo County residents from mosquitoes and the diseases they can carry. We'd like to let you get-to-know our staff and why our staff love their work. This month, we are highlighting Vanessa and Eric.
Click here to learn more about Vanessa Hernandez Pacheco, Vector Control Technician
Click here to learn more about Eric Eckstein, Vector Control Technician



Record Yellowjacket Requests in 2025

This year has been a particularly busy year for yellowjacket nests! Staff have responded to more than twice as many calls as is usual for this point in the year. As of August 31, staff have responded to 1,156 requests in 2025 – more than the first 8 months of any of the previous 10 years.
We can help (for free!) if you know the location of the nest. Some tips and info...
- Yellowjackets are most active between about 10am and 4pm. Check for the nest during this time frame.
- Our most common yellowjackets live in holes in the ground. Sometime the holes are hidden by ivy and other plants.
- Yellowjackets enter and exit the hole looking like planes landing and taking off from an airport. Like a tiny SFO!
- Placing a small flag or other marker near the nest entrance will help our staff quickly treat the nest when they arrive. Be careful! You should NOT place the marker directly on the nest - in the general area is fine!
- Call 650-344-8592 or submit a request online at https://www.smcmvcd.org/request-service
- Our staff typically visit the next business day. If you've marked the nest, then you don't even need to be home when we stop by to treat the nest.
West Nile Virus Updates - Stay Informed
Current West Nile virus information for San Mateo County
As of early September, residents have reported 453 dead birds in San Mateo County. Of those, 130 were in testable condition and tested in our laboratory. None of the dead birds collected in San Mateo County have tested positive for West Nile virus so far in 2025. Visit our webpage to stay up-to-date with San Mateo County information. To stay up-to-date with statewide information, visit the webpage with California state-wide data.
No mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus yet this year in San Mateo County. As of early September, our staff have collected and tested over 2,000 mosquitoes in 2025. West Nile virus has been found in mosquitoes in other counties in Calfornia, so if you are traveling don't forget to take your mosquito repellent and follow other tips to prevent mosquito bites and the diseases they can spread.
