(Image source from: Vector Control Agencies on Alert)

Vector Control Agencies are on alert in the Bay Area. The agencies are giving their efforts to prevent the outbreak of the Zika Virus in the region. Recently, the virus has been spotted in the Bay Area region.

The efforts are ongoing in the Peninsula. Agencies are working even in the winter, when the mosquitoes are the least active. Each water container is checked monthly, to prevent mosquito larvae at the  Holy Cross Cemetery located in the Menlo Park. The efforts are giving to ensure that,  two types of the mosquito with black and white strips do not breed in the area.

The Mosquito and Vector Control of the San Mateo County, Megan Caldwell, said that, "the last adult mosquito was found here in 2014 and the last larvae was in May of 2015."

In California, the mosquitoes are not active, but the agencies detected the mosquitoes in some areas of the Latin America and the United States of America. According to the Public health officials, travelers may bring back the mosquitoes to the region.

The Zika virus is linked to the birth defects in the newborn babies. Thousands of the babies are suffering from birth defects in Brazil, because their mothers were bitten during pregnancy.

Denise Bonilla with the Santa Clara County Mosquito and Vector Control, said that, "It's a very real concern, someone could get on a plane and it would be here."

There is lots of standing water in the Bay Area region due to recent rain. The standing water is the perfect breeding ground for the mosquito species.

A vector ecologist, Theresa Shelton, said that, "Dump and drain”, “we want people to look around their yard and empty out pots and anywhere that could be a breeding ground."

Nandini