The not-so-deadly West Nile Virus

[Michael Gochfeld]

One of the contrasts between NY and NJ was that NJ has had an on-going 
mosquito control program in almost every county since the EEE outbreak 
in the 1950's.  The program uses Integrated Pest Management, including 
habitat modifications, periodic surveillance, and larvicidal programs.  

Reliance on "adulticiding" has been infrequent and highly localized. 

Like many public health programs, as the problem wanes in memory, funds 
are shifted elsewhere.  The legislature began to lose interest as the 
EEE outbreak wasn't repeated (partly because of effective mosquito 
control programs).  The West Nile outbreak in NY did remind NJ to 
re-invest in effective mosquito surveillance and control. 

I was briefly in charge of New Jersey's statewide program in the 
Health Department in 1980, but didn't follow its declining fortunes 
after I left the department.  

But spraying for adult mosquitoes, for a mile around a dead crow, didn't 
make any sense in 2000 and doesn't today. Spraying is only a small part 
of vector control.  That's the message that is easy to lose. 



Michael Gochfeld

 
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