(KGTV) -- Summer is nearly here, and the County is preparing for pests. On Wednesday, the first rounds of larvicide will be dropped on 48 rivers, streams ponds and waterways.
In previous years, crews sprayed neighborhoods by hand to fight mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika and West Nile viruses. This year, the County will use a helicopter to drop the batches or solid, granular larvicide on the waterways that cannot be treated by hand.
The drops will take place about once each month of mosquito season (April to October). Mosquito larvae that ingest the larvicide will be killed, but the larvicide is not harmful to people or pets.
The list of waterways equals just over 1,000 acres from Chula Vista to Fallbrook and from Oceanside to Lakeside, according to the County News Center.
Protect yourself from mosquitos
- Prevent breeding areas in your backyard
- Apply repellant with ingredients like DEET, Picaridan or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus to clothing and exposed skin
- Try to stay indoors during dawn and dusk
- Visit fight the bite for more information on mosquito abatement and mosquito-borne illnesses
