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Programs -> Mosquitoes -> West Nile Virus -> Mosquito Pools
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Mosquito Pools:
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| Carbon Dioxide Mosquito Trap |
The District has an extensive mosquito trapping program used to monitor mosquito populations and to detect diseases. Carbon dioxide traps are set up throughout the county. A trap consists of a thermos filled with dry ice connected to a fan running on batteries and covered by a net bag. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide given off by the dry ice as it melts, mimicking human breathing. As mosquitoes comes close to the thermos, they are sucked down by the fan and into the net bag.
A portion of collected mosquitoes are tested for West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes are pooled together, by species, into groups of 12 - 50 mosquitoes. They are then ground up and tested.
Only one mosquito pool, in 2005, tested positive for West Nile virus in San Mateo County.
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