LA County Vector Control briefs Santa Fe Springs on dengue threat, sterile‑insect pilot and local services

Suzanne Clue, general manager of the Los Angeles County Vector Control District, briefed the Santa Fe Springs City Council on mosquito‑borne disease risks and the district's services, including a pilot sterile insect technique program.

Clue said the district provides surveillance, public‑source treatment and resident response services and asked the city to promote the district’s free inspections and service request line. She noted the district is an independent special district funded by an annual assessment and said that assessment is $18.97 per property.

Clue described disease trends and control work. "Last year, we had 14 cases of locally acquired dengue virus here in the county," she said, and she reported the district is tracking both locally acquired and travel‑related cases and continuing West Nile virus surveillance. She said the district mapped roughly 3,000 potential mosquito sources within Santa Fe Springs that are inspected on a regular cycle.

Among the district's newer efforts, Clue described a pilot sterile insect technique (SIT) project that sterilizes male Aedes mosquitoes with irradiation and releases them so mating produces no offspring; the pilot is currently in Sunland‑Tujunga with the goal of eventual expansion across the district if results warrant it. Clue said SIT is pesticide‑free, ecologically focused and aimed at reducing Aedes populations that can transmit dengue.

Clue also summarized less visible but continuous work the district undertakes, including treating underground storm drains, flood control channels and abandoned pools, plus black fly and bird‑carcass surveillance for West Nile virus. She encouraged the city to link to the district website, add the district's contact tab to the city site and consider running outreach messages on the city's marquee.

Councilmembers thanked Clue and noted local trustee participation and the value of the district's services.