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Yellow Fever Mosquitoes Discovered in Fresno, Fowler

Fresno County Public Health Department

The Fresno County Public Health Department has announced that yellow fever  mosquitoes have been found two more valley cities. The mosquitoes, which are not native to California, were discovered earlier this week in the cities of Fowler and Fresno.

It’s not the first time the potentially dangerous insects have been spotted in the county. In June, the mosquitoes were detected in Clovis. They have also been found in Madera County and San Mateo County.

Public health officials are urging residents to report mosquito bites received during the day, to use repellant and to eliminate standing water where the mosquitos can lay eggs.

The Health Department has posted information about the pest on its website, including this description of the mosquito:

The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is a small, dark mosquito with white markings and banded legs. It may be active around dusk and dawn but bites most often during the day and often bites indoors.

County officials are urging residents to report any mosquitoes that match that description to the Fresno Mosquito and Vector Control District at 559-268-6565 or the Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District at (559) 896-1085.

So far, no illnesses associated with this mosquito have been reported. In addition to yellow fever, the mosquitoes can also carry dengue  fever, and chikungunya.

Joe Moore is the President and General Manager of KVPR / Valley Public Radio. He has led the station through major programming changes, the launch of KVPR Classical and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership the station was named California Non-Profit of the Year by Senator Melissa Hurtado (2019), and won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting (2022).