Following the Eaton Fire, abandoned swimming pools in Altadena are raising serious public health concerns as potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. According to the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, over 1,300 pools were left behind within the burn zone, and another 1,200 sit just outside the perimeter.

Standing water in these pools can become breeding grounds for millions of mosquitoes, including species capable of spreading West Nile virus and dengue. Officials warn that one neglected pool alone can produce up to 3 million mosquitoes in a single month.

NBC Los Angeles recently accompanied vector control technicians as they treated abandoned pools and discovered mosquito larvae already developing. Since mosquitoes only need 5 to 6 days in stagnant water to mature from eggs to adults, timely intervention is crucial.

Anais Medina Diaz of the Mosquito and Vector Control District emphasized that nearby communities like Sierra Madre, Arcadia, and greater Los Angeles County could be affected, as mosquitoes can travel up to a mile from their breeding sites.

Spraying efforts are underway, with technicians applying larvicides that can prevent mosquito development for up to six months. However, officials are urging homeowners in the affected areas to reach out to the District for help managing or draining unmaintained pools.

As Southern California heads into hotter months, proactive mosquito control is essential to preventing outbreaks of West Nile virus and locally transmitted dengue, both of which have already been reported in recent years.