Invasive 'yellow fever' mosquito found in new location in Bay Area - SFGATE

What the report says

SFGate reported that the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, commonly called the yellow fever mosquito, has been detected for the first time in Castro Valley. The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District said multiple mosquitoes were found in traps on July 20, and officials are applying insecticide to target larvae near the discovery site.

The species, first recorded in California in 2013, has continued to appear in new parts of the state. It is a concern for vector-control officials because it can spread illnesses such as dengue, Zika and yellow fever. According to SFGate, the mosquito has been more common in Southern and Central California, where rare local dengue transmission has occurred in recent years, though not in the Bay Area.

Erika Castillo of the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District told SFGate that recent hot, humid conditions tied to monsoonal moisture and tropical storm remnants created favorable conditions for the mosquito, which is adapted to more tropical environments. Taylor Kelly of the Santa Clara County Mosquito and Vector Control District said humidity helps the insects survive and hot temperatures can accelerate their development; Santa Clara County has seen some activity this year and expects higher numbers later in summer.

The report also noted broader mosquito concerns in California. Native mosquito species can transmit West Nile virus, and state health officials are seeing more West Nile activity in mosquito and bird samples than in recent years. UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong told SFGate that heat can increase transmission risk by bringing birds and mosquitoes into closer contact and shortening the virus’s incubation period inside mosquitoes.