The not-so-deadly West Nile Virus

[David Smith]

I was not talking about Paul. Many of his posts I find interesting and
informative. I was talking about citing and relying on people paid for there
views such as mosquito control districts, paid witnesses in court cases,
etc. Now I realize that this could have included Paul because he is a paid
insecticide salesman (So I understand) but that is not the way it was meant,
it was to his references I referred. I am not an preservationist but rather
consider myself more conservation oriented.
    David Smith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Walker" <MWalker at gensym.com>
To: <idleweed at tusco.net>; <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 3:36 AM
Subject: RE: The not-so-deadly West Nile Virus


> David Smith wrote, but I plagiarized:
>
> "The various Florida <environmental activist groups spokespersons> cannot
be
> said to be unbiased on this topic.  They are fighting to keep their jobs.
I
> lived in Florida when they shut down <various recreational activities on
> public lands> and you should have read the statistics on how many <birds,
> bugs, and beasties> there were, and after the <various recreational
> activities> were shut down there wasn't that much difference.  It seems as
> though most people <scientists, activists, tree-huggers> will go to great
> lengths to keep their job and statistics is probably one of the easiest
ways
> to misinform other people"
>
> It really is kind of funny how both sides of this argument seem to speak
out
> of both sides of their mouths.  I can just imagine how badly Mr. Paul
would
> have been slaughtered on this list if he had said something like,
"Contrary
> to the 1999 news media in New York and the 2001 news media in Florida,
West
> Nile is NOT a particularly deadly virus. And compared with many other
public
> health problems it is a NEGLIGIBLE cause of mortality.", if it had been
> referring to NEGLIGIBLE insect mortality (which is precisely what Paul has
> been basically saying for at least five years now).  In fact, the
> similarities between this statement and Paul's usual post are striking.
> Surely everyone else can see that.
>
> Personally, I don't consider even a single human death by
insect-transmitted
> virus negligible.  As I've said, I share other's disdain for
indiscriminate
> and mass spraying.  But come on - are you folks really suggesting that
these
> few deaths are an exaggeration???
>
> You know - I'm just as upset with the shark attacks, because I know that
> this will provide a license to slaughter virtually every shark seen in
> shallow Floridian waters - all in the name of Florida tourism.  On the
other
> hand, I won't be planning any beachfront vacations to Florida any time
soon.
> Even if a few missing limbs would be negligible.
>
> Mark Walker.
>
>
>
>
> > The various Florida mosquito control districts cannot be said
> > to be unbiased
> > on this topic. They are fighting to keep there jobs. I lived
> > in Florida when
> > they shut down the auto inspection stations and you should
> > have read the
> > statistics on how many defective cars there were, after the
> > stations were
> > shut down there wasn't that much difference. It seems as
> > though most people
> > (scientists, mechanics, whatever) will go to great lengths to
> > keep there job
> > and statistics is probably one of the easiest ways to misinform other
> > people.
> >    David Smith
> > "Michael Gochfeld" <gochfeld at EOHSI.RUTGERS.EDU> wrote in message
> > news:1010827192714.ZM18278 at Gochfeld...
> > > As a public health professional who has had several
> > opportunities to be
> > > responsible for controlling vector borne diseases
> > (including by massive
> > > use of pesticides, including DDT) as well as studying them, I feel
> > > compelled to comment on the spraying issue vis-a-vis West
> > Nile virus.
> > >
> > > Contrary to the 1999 news media in New York and the 2001
> > news media in
> > > Florida, West Nile is NOT a particularly deadly virus. And
> > compared with
> > > many other public health problems it is a NEGLIGIBLE cause
> > of mortality.
> > >
> > > The basis for this is given in the attached article which I
> > completed
> > > last week.
> > >
> > > Whether or not there are risks to humans from the
> > pesticides, there is
> > > little evidence that the pesticide use has been beneficial
> > in reducing
> > > the risk of West Nile to humans (or to crows, if you're
> > concerned about
> > > their health).
> > >
> > > Does anyone find it remarkable that there are no published
> > accounts of
> > > the efficacy of spraying in controlling West Nile (or even the
> > > mosquitoes).
> > >
> > > Likewise, although there are abundant published accounts about the
> > > numbers of dead birds showing up from southern Canada to
> > the Gulf Coast,
> > > denominator information is lacking.  Are 10 infected crows
> > a lot or a
> > > little.  It's very difficult to tell because there are virtually no
> > > published accounts of the numbers of birds tested.  However, the few
> > > data points indicate that even for crows (a species
> > especially sensitive
> > > to West Nile virus), fewer than half of the birds tested
> > are positive
> > > for WNV.  Moreover, overall in NJ and NY, in the past two years more
> > > dead birds have succumbed from pesticide poisoning than from WNV
> > > according to state veterinarians.
> > >
> > > My argument is that it is not a case of human health vs ecological
> > > health, but that human health has benefitted little, if at
> > all, from the
> > > spraying.  Moreover, in 1999 when the media was besotted
> > with spraying,
> > > it failed to convey the messages from CDC and other
> > agencies, regarding
> > > how people could reduce exposure to mosquitoes through control of
> > > breeding places.
> > >
> > > As the attached article based on CDC publications and web sites
> > > explains, only a minute proportion of people who become infected
> > > with WNV (generally less than a half or tenth of 1%) get
> > seriously ill
> > > (of these about 10% die). The vast majority experience NO
> > SYMPTOMS AT
> > > ALL.  They are only discovered when random serologic surveys are
> > > conducted in presumed endemic areas.
> > >
> > > Compared with the 2400 deaths in New Jersey from influenza
> > and pneumonia
> > > in the year 2000, the one death from West Nile seems paltry
> > (except to
> > > the family of the victim, of course).
> > >
> > > Moreover, West Nile isn't even a major cause of
> > encephalitis/meningitis,
> > > causing only about 5% of the cases that occurred in the
> > tri-state area
> > > in 2000.
> > >
> > > Call me when there is an epidemic of Eastern Equine, a disease that
> > > kills 25% or more of those infected, and shows a propensity
> > for young
> > > people and children (who are apparently resistant to WNV).
> > >
> > > And while we're at it, compare the risks of slathering
> > toddlers with the
> > > neurotoxic DEET to the negligible risk of West Nile infection in
> > > children.
> > >
> > > Balancing risks is important. MICHAEL GOCHFELD
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  ------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
> >
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> >
> >


 
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