- Author: Mackenzie Faith Patton
The invasive pest spotlight focuses on emerging or potential invasive pests in California. In this issue we are covering West Nile virus.
West Nile Virus Facts
West Nile virus disease was first reported in California in 2003 and has become the most common and serious vector-borne disease in California. With the exceptionally wet weather in 2023, reported cases of this mosquito-borne virus doubled compared to the previous year.
West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes in the genus Culex. Usually, the virus passes between mosquitoes and birds, but mosquitoes can also transmit the virus to humans, horses, and other domestic animals.
Because mosquitoes can get the virus...
/h2>Many of us at UC IPM are cat lovers and owners. Cats are popular household pets that bring joy and companionship to many families. Feral cats, on the other hand, can cause problems in our communities and around our homes and gardens.
Feral cats are unsocialized, unowned cats that live outdoors. The problems they can cause are well documented. Feral cats are not treated by owners or veterinarians so they can carry contagious diseases like flea-borne typhus and rabies, and parasites like hookworm and fleas which can affect pets, humans, and other animals. Cats are also well-known hunters of songbirds and can significantly impact wildlife populations. While feral cats hunt, they do not completely control populations of house mice...
In honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month and in response to some misinformation about ticks on social media recently, we'd like to share some tick and Lyme disease facts.
- Ticks can spread several diseases to humans and pets, but Lyme disease is the most common. In California, Lyme disease is carried by the western blacklegged tick which occurs throughout the state.
- Lyme disease has been reported in most California counties, but some areas pose higher risks than others.
- You can
Mosquito Awareness Week, observed April 16 - 22, 2023, educates California residents about mosquitoes and how to help prevent the spread of mosquito-transmitted diseases.
One of the wettest years in history has left standing water across the state, creating perfect conditions for mosquitoes to develop. Stagnant water creates havens for disease-spreading mosquitoes, and mosquito experts are concerned this could be a long and intense mosquito season.
“After record amounts of rainfall this year, it is really important for all Californians to dump and drain standing water that has accumulated in their yards, porches,...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
- Author: Elaine Lander
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Advisory recently in response to increased reports of illness associated with products containing the pesticide ivermectin. Ivermectin is an active ingredient that is typically used to treat internal animal parasites such as roundworms, threadworms, and other parasites, and external parasites such as head lice. It is an anti-parasitic pesticide not an anti-viral. The FDA has not approved...