About Us
The mission of the Vector Control Service District is to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases, injury, and discomfort to the residents of the District by controlling insects, rodents, and other vectors and eliminating causal environmental conditions through education and integrated pest management practices.
The Alameda County Vector Control Services District is a division of the Environmental Health Department, which is one of four departments that comprise Alameda County Health.
Vector Control serves County residents primarily in two ways. The first is the response to requests for service regarding vector-related issues. This may include:
- Investigating complaints involving rodents, wildlife, and insect vectors
- Assessing environmental conditions that contribute to the presence of vectors and making corrective recommendations
- Providing insect, tick, spider, and rodent identifications
- Surveying for and assisting other Agencies in control measures for cockroaches in sewers and utility boxes
- Conducting yellowjacket and other stinging insect control
Secondly, with the creation of a new laboratory in 2018, Vector Control has enhanced its disease surveillance program. This involves surveying for the presence of pathogens that may be transmitted from invertebrates and vertebrates to humans. Our current surveillance programs include:
- Testing various ectoparasites (fleas, lice, mites) collected from vertebrate hosts that may harbor pathogens
- Surveillance of:
- Hantavirus in wild mice populations
- Seoul virus in commensal rats
- Leptospirosis in commensal rats
- Plague in wild mice and ground squirrels
- Rickettsial diseases from fleas collected off Norway rats trapped at homeless encampments
- Pathogens from ticks collected from County parks and open spaces
Vector Control Services
In addition to the above, Vector Control performs other functions:
- Field staff work with local code enforcement and public work agencies by responding to solid waste and other issues that contribute to vector problems
- Staff conduct weekly inspections of underground sewer manholes for signs of rodent activity
- Coordinates the County’s rabies surveillance program, acting as the liaison between the County Public Health Department, animal control agencies, and impacted members of the public
- Maintains an active outreach program by giving group presentations to special interest groups and participating in the County fair, shows, and events
Requesting Services
History
Initially referred to as County Service Area 1984 – 1, the Alameda County Vector Control Services District was formed in 1984 by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in order to provide vector control services to residents of the County, mostly concerning rats. At the time, Dublin, Emeryville, and Fremont were not included as part of the District. In 1992, the Dublin city Council voted to join the District, and in 2009 both Emeryville and Fremont were annexed by the District after a mail ballot process.
As the District has grown, more comprehensive services, such as county-wide disease surveillance, have been added. The City of Berkeley has its own Environmental Health Department that addresses its vector-related issues.
For more details regarding the District’s history, see the District’s annual report.
