South Florida

[Michael Gochfeld]

Many of us lament the "passing" of South Florida-----our window on the subtropics.

But, Alex, perhaps that is part of the Divine plan for humankind.

Anne mentioned my mosquito article.  It is posted on the NABA web site
http://www.naba.org

I can supplement that by saying that whether or not one thinks that controlling
mosquitoes is a good idea, West Nile virus is pretty much irrelevant.
The serologic surveys done thus far in the northeast indicate that it less than 1%
of the people infected become symptomatic and less than 1% of those become
seriously ill.  The death rate for West Nile meningoencephalitis may be 5%, but
the death rate for West Nile infection is less than 1 in a thousand.

Moreover, among the mengingoencephalitis deaths in the NJ-NY-CT area in 2000,
West Nile was responsible for only 5% of the cases.
West Nile distracts public health agencies from focusing on many more serious
public health problems. \

My OP ED piece on West Nile was published on September 11, 2001-----the day when
no one was reading newspapers.

Mike Gochfeld




 
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