There have been no reported cases of West Nile Virus yet this year in San Joaquin County, but Mosquito and Vector Control District officials are doing some preventative work to try and stay ahead of that possibility.

“We are doing standard mosquito control in some areas,” said District Public Information Officer Aaron Devencenzi.

Two earlier spraying operations were done in May, covering portions of rural southeast Escalon, while the past week saw ground spraying in the South County area and portions of both West Escalon and Rural Northeast Escalon. The West area ran north to Yosemite Avenue, south to Valdapena Way, Thompson Way, Zinfandel Drive and Daniels Avenue, east to McHenry and west to Brennan Avenue. The Rural Northeast area covered north to Dodds Road, south to Dutra Lane, east to Cometa Road and Victory Avenue and west to Steinegul Road. That ground spraying operation was completed early morning Thursday, June 5.

“We’ll continue doing surveillance out there,” Devencenzi said of the spray areas, and will return if the mosquito population warrants another spraying effort.

He said they are seeing increased mosquito populations throughout the county but, again, so far no reported cases of West Nile.

In addition to monitoring and spraying, the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District will be delivering mosquitofish later this month.

Residents can go online to request a delivery through the annual giveaway program; those deliveries will be made either Tuesday, June 24 or Thursday, June 26. Another option is to request the fish and pick them up at the Mosquito and Vector Control District Office on Friday, June 27 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

If you are requesting home delivery, officials are asking you to leave a bucket of water on the front porch so they can put the mosquitofish in it.

For those picking up at the District office, they will be provided with a take-home container of mosquitofish and a bag of fish food.

Those seeking mosquitofish to use them must be residents of San Joaquin County, either cities or rural areas. The mosquitofish are to be used in animal water troughs, ornamental aquatic barrels, neglected swimming pools and ponds without other fish.

The District office is at 7759 S Airport Way, Stockton.

For more information, call 209-982-4675, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or visit sjmosquito.org