{"id":788741,"date":"2026-07-28T06:02:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T06:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/788741\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T06:02:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T06:02:19","slug":"mosquitoes-west-nile-virus-activity-looks-increasingly-bad-this-year-in-oc-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/788741\/","title":{"rendered":"Mosquitoes, West Nile virus activity looks increasingly bad this year in OC \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

Orange County is \u201cwell on its way\u201d to having the largest number of West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes in the county\u2019s history this season, local officials warn.<\/p>\n

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-spread illness in the United States. Mosquitoes carry the virus after biting infected birds. And they can pass it to humans, potentially causing illness, through their bites.<\/p>\n

\"Mosquitos<\/p>\n

Mosquitos at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Ecologists Tim Morgan takes care of mosquito eggs at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Lab<\/p>\n

Lab assistant Adriene Ung releases 3,000 sterilized male mosquitoes in Mission Viejo, CA, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza prepares to look for mosquitoes in damp spots in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza look for mosquitoes in a storm drain near State College Boulevard in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Lab<\/p>\n

Lab assistant Adriene Ung releases 3,000 sterilized male mosquitoes in Mission Viejo, CA, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Lab<\/p>\n

Lab assistant Adriene Ung prepares to release 3,000 sterilized male mosquitoes in Mission Viejo, CA, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Lab<\/p>\n

Lab assistant Adriene Ung releases 3,000 sterilized male mosquitoes in Mission Viejo, CA, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Male<\/p>\n

Male and female Invasive Ankle Biter mosquitoes at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mosquitos<\/p>\n

Mosquitos breeding at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Ecologists Sokanary Sun and Tim Morgan in the adult mosquito room at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Ecologists Sokanary Sun in the adult mosquito room at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Assistant<\/p>\n

Assistant Biologist Eric Paquette sorts male and female Invasive Ankle Biter mosquitoes at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza looks for mosquitoes in fountain at Morningside Presbyterian Church in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza look leaves a notice on the door of a home after seeing green pool water on satellite images in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza look for mosquitoes in a storm drain near State College Boulevard in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza look for standing water where mosquitoes might breed in the backyard of a home in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza look for mosquitoes in a storm drain near State College Boulevard in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vector<\/p>\n

Vector Control Inspector Kevin Isunza looks for mosquitoes in drain at Morningside Presbyterian Church in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 19<\/p>\n

Mosquitos at Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District in Garden Grove, CA, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Authorities detect the virus by capturing and testing groups or \u201cmosquito pools\u201d of 10 to 50 of the insects at a time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of 2025, we had 186 mosquito pools that tested positive for West-Nile. Right now, this year we have 102 total positive mosquito pools,\u201d said Brian Brannon, a spokesperson with the Orange County Mosquito Vector and Control District.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I am hearing that we\u2019re going to see a lot more next Monday,\u201d he said. \u201cSo we are well on our way to having the most heavy amount of West Nile virus activity in the history of Orange County and the Mosquito Vector and Control District.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most people who become infected with the virus<\/a> won\u2019t experience symptoms.<\/p>\n

But one in five people may experience mild, flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, body aches or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/a><\/p>\n

In rare, severe cases, contracting the virus can lead to a central nervous system infection and cause inflammation in the brain and the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, resulting in hospitalization or even death.<\/p>\n

About 2,000 people annually are officially diagnosed with West Nile virus in the U.S. \u2014 the number could be higher because people could attribute symptoms to other causes.<\/p>\n

One in 10 people who contract West Nile and develop severe illnesses affecting the central nervous system die, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n

OC Vector Control first reported West Nile-positive mosquito samples<\/a> this year in Newport Beach on June 2.<\/p>\n

As of Friday, July 24, the district had found West Nile in 16 Orange County cities, with the heaviest numbers being recorded in the northwest part of the county, in Anaheim, Buena Park and Fullerton.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, we had four human infections with West Nile virus in Orange County,\u201d Brannon said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had any human infections this year. And our goal was to be proactive and to respond as quickly and as efficiently as possible when we detect the presence of disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that\u2019s what we\u2019re gonna do.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s being done?<\/p>\n

Hotter weather means faster breeding for mosquitoes, which means, naturally, more carrying West Nile, Brannon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had an unseasonably warm year from the get-go here,\u201d he said, \u201cand mosquitoes are warm-blooded animals, so when it gets warmer, they\u2019re more active.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mosquito district is doing a few things to curb the uptick.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a team that drives around in right-hand driving Jeeps so that they can drive along curbs in neighborhoods where the water and gutter backs up,\u201d Brannon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo they\u2019ll go, and they have a little spray gun, and they put some mineral oil on that standing water and the gutters that will prevent the larvae from being able to breathe,\u201d Brannon said.<\/p>\n

The Vector Control District, starting in May each year, also sterilizes and releases up<\/a> to 100,000 male mosquitoes in Mission Viejo. The idea is that the sterilized male mosquitoes, which don\u2019t bite, will outcompete the non-sterilized males to lower West Nile-carrying populations.<\/p>\n

But the Vector Control District is also urging residents to take their own precautionary measures.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to teach people to look for in and around their homes, anything that can hold standing water,\u201d he said, adding that buildup often happens around neighborhood curbs, backyard water hoses, garden ponds, atop pool covers and in crawl spaces.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if everybody did that, the world would be a beautiful place,\u201d Brannon said. \u201cBut it takes vigilance.\u201d<\/p>\n

How can we ward off bites?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Remove stagnant water from homes and backyards. And at least once a week, clean any containers that hold water, including pet bowls, bird baths, flowerpot saucers and trash containers.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cMosquitoes that carry West Nile virus, they bite at dusk and dawn,\u201d Brannon said. Wear loose-fitting long pants, long sleeves and light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes can bite through fitted clothing, such as yoga pants.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Use screens, windows and doors, and if available, use air conditioning.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Carry and wear EPA-registered repellents.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Report dead birds to the Vector Control District to help officials track West Nile.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Report high mosquito activity or causes such as standing water to the Vector Control District at ocvector.org.<\/p>\n

The agency offers free mosquito control services, Brannon said. \u201cIt\u2019s a first come first serve type of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if people are seeing mosquitoes or home issues and they want us to come out, better call now,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause it looks like we\u2019re going to be pretty busy throughout the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cities where infected mosquitoes have been reported<\/p>\n

Anaheim
\nBrea
\nBuena Park
\nCypress
\nCosta Mesa
\nFullerton
\nGarden Grove
\nHuntington Beach
\nLos Alamitos
\nLa Habra
\nNewport Beach
\nOrange
\nSanta Ana
\nSeal Beach
\nStanton
\nWestminster<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Orange County is \u201cwell on its way\u201d to having the largest number of West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":788742,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[2356,97,3,6011,5599,452],"class_list":["post-788741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-california","tag-health","tag-news","tag-orange-county","tag-public-health","tag-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=788741"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788741\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/788742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=788741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=788741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=788741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}