County Joins Mosquito Search; Torrance Program Criticized

Citing what they call the shortcomings of Torrance’s program, regional mosquito fighters moved into the city late last week to search for the insect’s breeding grounds.

The citywide effort will continue this week, following the discovery in Torrance two weeks ago of mosquitoes carrying a strain of encephalitis. That discovery has set off a storm of criticism about whether Torrance’s own anti-mosquito program is doing the job.

Charles M. Myers, regional chief of the environmental branch of the state Department of Health Services, said of the city’s program: “I think they need to look into their problem and really address it.”

Speaking of Torrance residents, Myers added: “I wouldn’t flee Torrance, but I would be concerned that they’re not being protected.”

Torrance officials insist that the city is fully qualified to fight mosquitoes. Moreover, they said, they are working to improve staff training and upgrade surveillance techniques.

The mosquitoes found in Torrance carried a strain called Western Equine Encephalitis, which primarily affects horses. Only six human cases have been reported in California since 1968.

Mosquito fighters from the Los Angeles County West Mosquito Abatement District last week inspected 49 spots that reportedly had been treated by the city, said the district’s executive director, Robert Saviskas. Nine of them contained emerging mosquito adults, he said.

This week, the district will hunt for more spots where mosquitoes are breeding and try to eliminate them by spraying a common bacterial insecticide, he said.

Torrance is the only city in western Los Angeles County that is not a district member. The city, which runs its own one-man, $65,000-a-year program, chose not to join because it hoped to save money.

The district would charge the city about $22,000 a year and collect a fee from homeowners of $2 to $4.40 a year.

Several Torrance City Council members recently have questioned the effectiveness of the city program.

“We screwed up,” said Councilman Dan Walker, who urged Torrance to join the district. “This idea of trying to save a little bit of money is as shortsighted a policy as you can imagine.”