Fight the Bite

West Nile virus (WNV) is a serious, sometimes deadly disease that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes to people, birds, horses and other animals. It is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the United States. In 2012, human cases of the virus increased by more than 40 percent. Now, you can help reduce the risk of the disease in San Diego County.

The Vector Control Program’s “Fight the Bite” app makes it easy to anonymously report neglected swimming pools, backyard pools and dead birds to the County for treatment or testing. Neglected pools can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit WNV, while dead birds can be tested for the virus.

Using the app is simple!

1. After reading the brief instructions, press "Continue" to load the camera.

2. Take a photo of the neglected pool or bird

3. Enter the address and any additional notes.

4. Press "Done" to send your report to the County. The app has a counter so you can track the number of reports you submit.

That’s it! Vector Control will pick up viable birds for testing or contact the homeowner and treat the pool at no charge.

There are also links on the Thank You page that allow you to: Create a new report, call the County, "like/follow" the County's social media sites used to communicate community health alerts.