Public Health Threats FAQ's

Do bats serve as an effective mosquito control?

Bats in temperate areas of the world are almost exclusively insectivorous. Food items identified in their diet are primarily beetles, wasps, and moths…

What can be done to reduce risk of viruses in the Coachella Valley?

The best line of defense is to protect yourself from being bitten (e.g., using repellents, ensuring window and door screens have no holes, and wearing…

COVID-19 FAQs

Work Continues for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

What if I think that I am experiencing an adverse reaction to pesticide spraying?

If you believe you may be experiencing any health effects from pesticides, call your health care provider. If symptoms are severe, call 911 for…

If I am a beekeeper, should I take special precautions to protect the bees before or after aerial spraying?

We do not anticipate negative impacts on honey bee colonies since the aerial spraying takes place at night. If bees are congregating outside the hive…

Even if no precautions are required, are there extra steps people can choose to take if they are still concerned?

Although not necessary, steps that can be followed in areas where aerial spraying is scheduled to take place include:

Are there precautions I should take if spraying will occur in my area?

Although mosquito control pesticides and the techniques pose low risk to people, to ensure the maximum impact of the operation the District recommends…

Can adulticides harm insects or wildlife?

The products we use are targeted to control flying adult mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes are most active at night whereas beneficial insects - such as…

How is aerial spraying conducted?

Ultra-low volume (ULV) adult mosquito treatments by helicopter are applied in areas with strong virus activity that has been detected multiple times.

When are spraying insecticides considered?

Our mission is to protect the community from mosquito-borne diseases. When mosquito populations increase, the risk of local transmission is higher…

What does it mean to find a positive mosquito samples?

The District regularly traps and tests mosquitoes throughout the Coachella Valley.

Which repellent works best?

N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) remains the standard and most effective. There are a variety of mosquito repellents on the market both chemical…

What do I do if I find a dead bird?

When a bird dies, there is a short window to test for WNV. The virus immediately starts to break down after death which makes birds that are dead for…

Do birds show symptoms of West Nile virus?

Research indicates birds have somewhat similar symptoms to people. Studies done with crows indicate that when crows are infected they have difficulty…

Website Accessibility Policy

Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is fully committed to providing accessible facilities, elements and channels of communication to all members of the public. As part of this commitment, Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District has a policy of providing an accessible website compatible with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and commercial screen reading software. All features of the website are coded to allow individuals with vision and other impairments to understand and use the website to the same degree as someone without disabilities. We welcome feedback and can often resolve issues in a timely manner if they arise.

If you need any special assistance or accommodations:

Call us at 760-342-8287

Ongoing Compliance Information

Compliance Officer

Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District has designated a compliance officer for website disability-related accommodations. The compliance officer has received training in website accessibility and updates the site in accordance with those best practices. Contact our accessibility officer to report an issue.

Compliance Procedures and Reports

In addition to testing with users with a wide range of disabilities and coding our website to WCAG standards, Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District regularly scans its website to ensure ongoing compliance, and makes timely changes to any inaccessible changes, if any are found.

Linked Documents and Third Parties

Please note that this site may link out to third-party websites, such as state or federal agencies, that do not have accessible content. This site may also include documents provided by third parties included in our agenda packets, for example. While we cannot control the accessibility of content provided by third parties, we are happy to assist any member of the public with reading and accessing content on our site.

See an opportunity for us to improve? Please contact our accessibility officer or call us at 760-342-8287.

Report a Website Accessibility Issue