The Vector Control Program promotes public health through surveillance and public education activities with goals to avoid or prevent communicable diseases, such as rabies, lymes disease, hantavirus, and west nile virus, from animals - vectors in our environment.

Rabies Control

The prevention of animal and human rabies cases is a team effort by responsible pet owners, veterinarians, animal control agencies, law enforcement, and public health practitioners. Environmental Health and the Public Health Branch Laboratory provide screening of human and domestic animal contacts with potentially rabid animals, conducts testing of suspect animals, and directs quarantines of animals. Bites or other exposures to wild animals should be reported immediately to Environmental Health. Domestic animal bites should be reported to the local animal control or law enforcement agency for your location. The following preventative measures are recommended:

1. If a bite or direct contact with a bat or other wild animal occurs, immediately wash the affected skin area with soap and water; contact a physician and Environmental Health.
2. Avoid contact with wild and stray animals.
3. Keep vaccinations current for domestic cats and dogs and keep records.
4. Bat proof all building and accessory structures.
5. Report animal bites to your county or municipal animal control officer.
6. Instruct children to not touch a wild or stray animal and report it to an adult.
7. Wash any animal bite immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention.
8. Bring pet foods indoors at night to keep skunks, raccoons, opossum, and foxes from becoming uninvited visitors to your home or yard. Do not feed wild animals.

West Nile Virus

Environmental Health has prepared a county-wide West Nile Virus Response Plan. Program activities include surveillance of mosquito species and populations in the county, assistance to the state dead bird surveillance program, and a public information campaign to control mosquito breeding sources and avoid mosquito bites. Persons wishing to report a dead bird for testing need to contact the state West Nile Virus Hotline at 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473).

Rodents and Insects

This program also provides recommendations to homeowners on rodent control measures, vermin proofing your home, and identification of insects, ticks and spiders of public health significance.

For additional information on the above programs, please contact the Division of Environmental Health. If you have questions, or would like to speak with the Field Inspector, you may reach staff on their direct line. The best time to call, before the inspectors are out in the field, is between the hours of 8:30 and 9:30 am or after 4:00 pm.

To obtain printed information, please go to our documents section to view or download PDF files or contact Environmental Health at (707) 445-6215 and documents will be mailed.


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Vector Control Program Staff

Kevin Metcalfe, REHS Program Supervisor (707) 268-2210 Kevin.Metcalfe@co.humboldt.ca.us

Morgan Cook REHS Vector Program, Field Inspector (707) 268-2227 Morgan.Cook@co.humboldt.ca.us