MVCAC News Briefs - October 2, 2015

Do you have important news to share about your district or mosquito and vector issues?

If you would like your news to be included in the MVCAC News Briefs, please send press releases and/or links to relevant news articles to mvcac@mvcac.org

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Mailing Address:

1 Capitol Mall

Suite 800

Sacramento, CA 95814

MVCAC Fall Meeting Agendas and Reports

All,

Please have your Fall Board Meeting agenda items and reports to me by October 9, 2015. For the schedule for the meetings please click here. Please let me know if you have any questions or if any adjustments are needed. The final agenda and packet will be out no later than October 14.

Thank you!

Kimberly Andosca

kandosca@amgroup.us

Proposed MVCAC Mosquitofish/Aquaculture Workshops (Survey)

The MVCAC's Mosquitofish and Biocontrol Subcommittee is considering a mosquitofish and/or aquaculture workshop to be held at the upcoming 2016 MVCAC Annual Meeting. Please complete this brief survey, so we may review your feedback to best determine anticipated interest, attendance and topics to be covered.

We look forward to providing mosquitofish and aquaculture resources that will best serve your agency needs. Thank you for your time

Sincerely,

Mike Saba

MVCAC Mosquitofish and Biocontrol Subcommittee Chair

Election of MVCAC Honorary Members and Award for Meritorious Service

Honorary Membership

MVCAC honorary membership is reserved for individuals who have provided exceptional and distinguished service in the field of mosquito or vector control in California. To receive this special recognition, nominees must receive a two-thirds vote of the corporate membership.

Meritorious Service

Meritorious service awards may be conferred on members or nonmembers who have made special and significant contributions to the field of mosquito or vector control in the State of California or elsewhere. To receive this special recognition, nominees must receive a two-thirds vote of the corporate membership.

Visit our website for more information

Ballots are due back to the MVCAC office no later than Friday, October 16, 2015.

Please don't hesitate to contact the office with any questions.

Trustee Council Elections

Ballots, addressed to the President of the Board of Trustees, were sent to agencies within both the Southern California Region and Sacramento Valley Region.

Theses Council terms begin January, 2016.

Ballots are due back to the MVCAC office by October 26, 2015.

MVCAC Corporate Member Fiscal Status Reports Reminder

We are still missing some fiscal status reports from MVCAC member districts. If you have not yet submitted your fiscal status report, please do so ASAP.

Instructions on how to login to your district's portal account are below. Once this updated fiscal information is received, we will send you your 2015-16 dues invoice.

Login using your district login information. This is the main login that was provided to managers a couple of months ago, if you need it resent please email us at mvcac@mvcac.org.
Once logged in, please click the link titled: "Create Corporate Members Fiscal Status Report 2015-2016"
Enter the information requested: Total Actual Expenditures, Capital/Fixed Asset Expenditures, Operational Expenditures, and your name.
You will then see a confirmation page, please review the information you entered and then click "Save Changes"
After clicking "Save Changes" you should receive a confirmation email. A dues invoice will be mailed to you by the MVCAC staff shortly after you submit your information.

Please feel free to contact the office if you have any questions or if you need any assistance logging in to or navigating the portal. Thank you for supporting MVCAC!

Input from your district needed

MVCAC will be creating a brief video that we can present to legislators and other interested parties summarizing California's mosquito activities throughout the year, additionally highlighting activities of both the association and local districts. The goal of this video is to show the significant value MVCAC provides to California and its residents, further demonstrating the need for adequate mosquito research funding going forward.

Thanks to those who submitted photos after our initial request last month. We are seeking compelling content from local districts to add to the video to be sure we're capturing a broad range of material to tell a well-rounded story. The following content that has occurred within the last year would be greatly appreciated:

Local news headlines/stories regarding increased mosquito activity
Photos/videos of local district activities
Community events educating the public
Legislator visits to local facilities
News interviews

If you have any questions or would like to submit content, please contact Jenny Dudikoff at: jdudikoff@ka-pow.com or 916-498-7713. Please have all content submitted by Friday, October 16th.

We look forward to sharing this video with all MVCAC members once its complete late this year.

MVCAC Fall Meeting

October 29 and 30 th, 2015

(Trustee session on October 28th in the afternoon)

Embassy Suites San Diego
601 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101

Rooms:
Click here to book a room
or call 619-239-2400
Rate $142, this rate is "prevailing federal per diem" and subject to change.

Note: The hotel is filling up quickly so make your reservations today!

Click here to view the meeting schedule

Parking:
$35 reduced valet parking for Fall meeting attendees.

For more information about this meeting, please click here

**Please note: This is the first meeting to use the new policy of a first night's deposit taken at time of reservation as well.

2015 William C. Reeves New Investigator Award Application Open

Applications for the statewide William C. Reeves New Investigator Award will be accepted through Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

The William C. Reeves New Investigator Award, memorializing Dr. William C. Reeves, who was a renowned University of California entomologist, is sponsored by the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC). The award is presented to the best scientific paper submitted and presented at the annual MVCAC conference.

Please click here for more information.

84th Annual Conference First Call for Papers & Posters

The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) will hold its 84th Annual Conference on February 28-March 2, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. You are invited to submit a paper or poster for presentation at the conference.

This presentation should be related to mosquitoes or other vectors, the disease organisms they transmit, or their surveillance and control. Presentations may be of research results, the development and testing of new methods, equipment or products, education, community outreach and the adaptation or development of new technology relating to vector research, surveillance or control.

If you are interested in presenting a paper or poster, please click here for more information.

MVCAC 2016 Annual Conference

February 28th - March 2nd , 2016

Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Rooms:

Single/Double Occupancy- $140 per night
Triple Occupancy- $165
Quadruple Occupancy- $190

Room Rate Cut-off: February 5, 2016

Booking Website:
https://resweb.passkey.com/go/2016MV16

For more information about this meeting, please click here

Chickens in Oakley and Bird in Danville Test Positive for West Nile Virus

CONCORD, CALIFORNIA - - The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District confirmed today that two sentinel chickens from Oakley and one dead bird from Danville have tested positive for West Nile virus. Fogging for adult mosquitoes is scheduled for Thursday evening in Oakley.

"To quote the late Yogi Berra, 'It ain't over till it's over,'" said Steve Schutz, scientific program manager for the District referring to the mosquito season. "West Nile virus is still active, there is still a risk of contracting it from mosquitoes, and we all still need to take the necessary precautions to control mosquitoes and their bites."

How California's Drought Affects Residents' Health

For most Californians, the continuing drought means a crash course in learning how to conserve water and adjusting to warmer temperatures. But for some of the state's residents, the drought has also brought about increased health challenges.

From reports of West Nile Virus and Valley fever, to a greater incidence of respiratory illnesses, the state's changing climate continues to yield a variety of health concerns. As the California drought enters its fourth year, health officials are seeing how increased air pollution and fires, food and water contamination, and new pests and pathogens are all impacting public health.

Officials: San Diego Woman Died From West Nile Virus

West Nile virus was confirmed as the cause of death three weeks ago of a 79-year-old San Diego woman, and two other people have since picked up the mosquito-borne disease, county health officials reported Wednesday.

The woman, whose name was withheld, got sick in August and died Sept. 8. Testing by a state laboratory confirmed that she was the first in the San Diego region to die of West Nile virus this year, county health officials said.

Her death was initially reported Sept. 11 and listed as a suspected WNV case. Two area residents died from WNV last year.

92% people unaware that mosquito causes dengue: Survey

At a time when the number of dengue cases is on the rise across the country, a survey has claimed that around 92 per cent people are unaware of the fact that the deadly disease is caused by mosquito bite.

The survey, which covered 16 cities with a sample size of around 1,600 respondents, is commissioned by Godrej Consumer Products Limited, which sells mosquito repellents under the brand name 'Good Knight'.

It, however, said that 85 per cent of the respondents know it is a life threatening disease and 76 per cent parents are of the view that children are most vulnerable to dengue, said the survey report titled 'Good Knight Dengue Awareness'.

West Nile Virus Dead Bird Testing and Hotline

West Nile virus dead bird testing and the WNV Dead Bird Hotline began on April 15, 2015.

Live calls are being answered (1-877-WNV-BIRD) and online reports are being responded to (www.westnile.ca.gov).

Agencies can bypass the message options by calling the agency line at (510-412-4601). This will connect you to the hotline operators. If you need to enter a dead bird report and obtain a dead bird number, please use the Gateway.