β€˜No Spray' Signs Protest Anti-Zika Virus Efforts in Mount Hope

What to Know

  • No mosquito-transmitted Zika virus cases have been reported in San Diego County
  • Zika virus is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, which actively bite humans during the daytime.
  • Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

Efforts to eradicate the mosquito known to carry the Zika virus were met with opposition Tuesday in San Diego.

San Diego County Department of Environmental Health will be spraying in the Mount Hope community Tuesday after a resident was confirmed to have contracted the virus while traveling abroad and the Aedes species of mosquitoes were detected in the neighborhood.

Several residents posted signs asking the county not to spray on their property. One person stood in the center of Market Street wearing a gas mask.

Thelmi Rivera is one of the residents who is concerned about the effects of the pesticides.

β€œThey said it wasn't harmful to pets and safe for our children but I don't believe that,” Rivera said. "I mean if it's killing off millions of bees, why wouldn't it be harmful to pets and children.”

A 12-person team will spend the day hand-spraying Pyrenone 25-5 within a two-square-block radius bordered by Market, F, Quail and Raven streets, county officials said.

Rebecca LaFreniere, Deputy Director with Department of Environmental Health San Diego County, suggested residents stay indoors along with their children and their pets.

Hannah Ketterman and her husband are trying for to conceive before he deploys with the U.S. military. For them, the possibility of Zika transmission is a big issue.

β€œIt worries me, being the mom of a young child and wanting to see our family grow,” Ketterman said.

Elias Ortiz lives in the neighborhood and said there was no advanced notice but he supports the county’s decision to spray.

β€œWe just got a notice that they were going to do it, and had no say,” he said. β€œBut if it’s for the public health were all good.”

Vector control crews were faced with signs and protests in San Diego on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016.

The county says they will be walking on the ground in people's yards and spraying places that might have some standing water where mosquitoes might lay eggs.

Residents can refuse but the county said its crews will return with an abatement warrant which will allow them to spray the insecticide.

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