Our district publishes all public notices in the local paper and here on the site. Other general announcements may be posted on the website and our community bulletin board, as appropriate.

• Statement from the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) on Locally Acquired Malaria Cases in Florida and Texas: 

Despite reports of recent malaria cases in Florida and Texas, local transmission of malaria in the U.S. is very rare. Most malaria cases are acquired when people travel outside of the U.S. where malaria transmission occurs. Anopheles mosquitoes that can spread malaria are present in California, including Santa Barbara County, but the parasites that cause malaria are not currently found in these mosquitoes locally or the rest of California. The last cases of local transmission of malaria in California were reported in 1990. About 100 cases of malaria are reported each year in California from people who were infected while traveling in other countries. Since malaria is a reportable disease, all diagnosed imported cases are tracked by the state and local public health departments. The patient’s history and potential for exposure to local malaria vectors are evaluated and if need be, actions are made to prevent possible transmission within the local community.

Mosquito and vector control agencies in California, including the Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County , monitor many species of mosquitoes including those that carry West Nile Virus, invasive mosquitoes, and those that have the ability to carry malaria. Mosquito and vector control agencies do this to protect public health and quickly respond when mosquito-borne diseases threaten residents.

Residents in Santa Barbara County are encouraged to wear EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors in mosquito-infested areas and dump and drain all standing water in and around their homes to prevent mosquito bites.

To learn more about mosquito prevention please visit the MVCAC website: MVCAC - Prevention

To learn more about malaria:

From the U.S. Centers for Disease Control: CDC - Malaria

From the California Department of Public Health: CDPH - Malaria