Following recent wildfires in the Eaton Canyon area, public health officials are warning residents that neglected swimming pools could spark a new mosquito-borne health emergency. Standing water—especially in damaged or abandoned pools—is a perfect breeding ground. This is true in Compton as well.

Officials stress that just one untreated pool can produce up to 3 million mosquitoes in a month, putting the entire community at risk. These mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases including West Nile virus, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

To protect public health, authorities are urging homeowners to take action:

• Keep pools clean and functional or empty and dry
• Use larvicides or request mosquitofish to control breeding
• Report stagnant water to comptoncreekmad.org

Warmer temperatures increase mosquito breeding days. Now is the time to act.