In a recent conversation with officials from Santa Clara County, concerns have been raised regarding the discovery of the invasive and aggressive Aedes aegypti mosquito near a San Jose cemetery. They are delivering a strong message to residents: it’s crucial to eliminate any stagnant water around your property and to grant pest control professionals access to help minimize the risk of these mosquitoes becoming a persistent menace.
In a press release dated October 4, the county emphasized that these invasive mosquitoes are capable of spreading diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, and other serious illnesses. “They represent a significant threat to our way of life,” officials noted, highlighting the mosquitoes’ aggressive daytime biting behavior, which distinguishes them from local species that are more active during the cooler morning and evening hours.
According to county representatives, “This mosquito primarily feeds on human blood and typically doesn’t stray far from its breeding site, usually remaining within 500 feet.”
The Aedes aegypti is notorious for its disruptive behavior. The California Department of Public Health points out that even a small population of these mosquitoes can lead to considerable nuisance. They are known to bite both indoors and outdoors, with an individual mosquito often biting multiple times and frequently targeting the ankles.
First identified in Santa Clara County back in 2022, this black-and-white striped mosquito has made appearances not just in San Jose, but also in Gilroy, Contra Costa County, Santa Cruz County, Solano County, San Mateo County, and Alameda County. Their reputation is particularly concerning due to their role in transmitting dengue fever, colloquially referred to as “bone-break fever” due to its agonizing symptoms, in addition to chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus.
County officials are urging residents to thoroughly inspect their properties for even the tiniest amounts of standing water and to eliminate it. “Cleaning and scrubbing bird baths, pet bowls, and other containers is an effective way to get rid of lingering Aedes aegypti eggs,” they advised, “which are about half a millimeter in size and can easily be mistaken for small specks of dust.”
To further combat mosquito breeding, the county recommends covering rain barrels, water tanks, and irrigation ditches with fine mesh, as well as fixing any leaking outdoor faucets and broken sprinkler heads.
