More on New York Malathion kill of (fwd)
Michael Gochfeld
gochfeld at eohsi.rutgers.edu
Sat Oct 2 05:45:41 EDT 1999
It is not surprising that those interested in lepidoptera should
be appalled by the broadcast "mosquito control" spraying programs.
However, we should also make it clear that it is not simply the relative
value of controlling mosquitos vs preserving all the non-target species.
There are two issues that should be addressed:
1. Risk: someone has alread mentioned that this so-called epidemic
represents very few cases or deaths. New York communities will spend
a lot of money on pesticides spraying to prevent a handful of deaths
that would probably be better devoted to public health measures to
control more significant diseases.
The best documented outbreak of West Nile disesea occurred in
southeastern Romania in 1996. Although I haven't seen all the original
literature, the estimate is that there were 500 to 1000 inapparent
infections for every clinically apparent case. There were 17 deaths
among 393 clinically evident cases. Yes it's a virus that can be lethal,
but probably doesn't deserve the designation of a deadly virus.
West Nile Virus is an arthropod-borne virus (ARBO-virus) of the
Flavivirus group, best known of which are Japanese B and St. Louis. It
occurs mainly around the Mediterranean, in central and southern Africa
and on the Indian subcontinent. It is endemic in many (most? All?) of
these areas, but outbreaks of disease is sporadic. It has been studied
mainly in Africa and southern Europe. It has been implicated in a
large epidemic of human meningoencephalitis in southeastern Romania
(1996) and among horses (no human cases, apparently) in Italy (1998).
The usual vector are mosquitoes of the genus Culex, although Aedes and
Anopheles mosquitoes may be infected as well.
2. More importantly. The emphasis on broadcast spraying (which is
likely to be relatively ineffectual) leads people to ignore the truly
effective ways of preventing themselves from being bitten by mosquitos
which involve control of breeding places (elimination or treatment of
standing water), screens, repellent, and staying away from mosquitos.
Mosquito populations will be eliminated by the coming cold
weather.
3. The notion that spraying insecticides on a broadcast basis is
innocuous and a first choice is a reminder of a "Quick Henry the FLIT"
era. It should be the last recourds.
M. Gochfeld
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