An aggressive, non-native mosquito that has spread throughout San Diego County has both County officials and residents concerned.
According to the County the Asian tiger mosquito, which has been found most frequently in Barrio Logan, can transmit diseases rarely seen in San Diego.
Named for the white tiger-looking stripes on its body, the mosquito can carry disease such as chikungunya, dengue or yellow fever.
Janet Martinez, of Barrio Logan, has found numerous bites on her legs and she’s worried what type of mosquito is harassing her.
“Oh my god, are those the ones that are biting me and my son? What should I do? I go crazy,” Martinez explained her worry over the bites. “It’s like I’m traumatized now.”
Thought to have been killed off years ago, Vector Control said Asian tiger mosquitos were detected in San Diego County again last September.
“We’re really trying to keep tabs on it and eliminate them,” Greg Slawson of Vector Control told NBC7. “The weather could be absolutely part of the problem but really it’s people moving around transporting stuff.
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Vector Control believes the mosquitos may have come from larvae in bamboo shipments from Asia.
Officials are also concerned the mosquito could spread other diseases.
“If someone were to say travel here from a foreign country where they got infected and didn’t realize they were infected and went about their business around the county and then got bit by an Asian tiger mosquito, then it could potentially then bite another human and start a little mini outbreak,” Slawson explained.
According to County officials as of yet none of the diseases the mosquito can potentially carry have been found in San Diego County. Tiger mosquitoes are most active during the day and usually sleep at night.
