Mosquito Control in Cemetaries in Alameda County

The Challenge

Mosquitoes lay their eggs on or near standing water, and many cemeteries have a lot of standing water. Invasive Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive day biting mosquitoes which lay their eggs on the sides of containers and require less than a bottle cap full of water to complete their life cycle. They can transmit various viruses including  Zika, dengue fever, chikungunya, and yellow fever. These two species have been found in many parts of  California,  with Aedes aegypti being found in Alameda County in 2024 and reported in nearby San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara Counties. Once invasive Aedes establish in an area, they are difficult to control, and require labor intensive work to reduce their population.  

The Solution

The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District (ACMAD) prioritizes preventative action, a key part of a robust Integrated Mosquito Management program, to ensure a comprehensive monitoring effort in cemetaries across Alameda County. 

Other mosquito abatement organizations have detected invasive Aedes in cemeteries, as the grounds offer an environment uniquely suited for invasive mosquitoes owing to the large number of vases and a consistent supply of irrigated water. In addition, cemeteries offer shade for adult mosquitoes to rest, along with ample supplies of birds and humans for blood meals. Historically, cemeteries have been havens for  mosquitoes  throughout California, including the various species that can carry West Nile virus, which entered Alameda County in 2004 and quickly established in the native mosquito population. Learning from the history of West Nile virus and with an eye to the future, the District is routinely implementing mosquito surveillance/monitoring and control efforts in cemetaries in Alameda County.

Control Efforts

Cemeteries can choose which mitigation tactics will work best for their location and community. In 2021, the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District (ACMAD) provided a list of possible solutions to each cemetery in Alameda County. Cemeteries can replace heavy vases with easy to remove plastic containers if they are drained weekly. If cemetery staff wish to remove standing water completely, they can fill containers with sand, cement, or water storing crystals. ACMAD recognizes the importance of cemetery leadership to decide which mitigation actions to take, as they understand which practices will be sustainable for their staff and are culturally appropriate to their own communities.  We appreciate the cemeteries for working with us to prevent the spread of invasive Aedes aegypti in Alameda County.