Professor of Biology
Pace University
Pleasantville Campus
1)Westchester County officials launch operation S.T.I.N.G.
2) CDC reports positive results for "piece(s)" of west nile virus in 3 of 69 sites tested for mosquitos in Queens, New York.
3) On Wednesday, March 15,2000, (The Journal News, March 15, 2000, p.4b- Melissa Klein) reported that a red-tailed hawk found last month died of the West Nile Virus."It's no longer speculation," said Duane Gubler, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vector-borne disease program. "There likely will be transmission in the spring. It's a very strong liklihood the virus will persist."
But Dr. Ada Huang, the Westchester County Health Department's deputy commissioner for disease control, said the significance of the infected bird was unclear. She said the bird could have traveled to Westchester from someplace else or become infected months ago.
Dr. Bill would like to also support the position of Dr. Huang in that it is highly unlikely the hawk was attacked by a mosquito in Bronxville, New York - during February, 2000.
4) Connecticut to distribute larvicide - http://www.msnbc.com/local/WNBC/722052.asp - "Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Monday the distribution of $500,000 worth of larvicide to 41 communities.
NO HUMAN CASES OF THE VIRUS WERE REPORTED IN cONNECTICUT, but thousands of birds were killed in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
At the time of the outbreak last fall, officials sprayed pesticides to try to kill mosquitoes.
Beginning next month, the state plans to distribute larvicide to try to kill mosquito larvae in 41 communities as well as in all of Connecticut's coastal communities."
UNBELIEVABLY - (Dr. Bill's opinion) - "Arthus J. Rocque Jr., commissioner of the Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, said testing this winter HAS NOT TURNED UP ANY INDICATION OF THE WEST NILE VIRUS IN HIBERNATING MOSQUITOES IN CONNECTICUT. But he said environmental officials believe the larvicide is necessary to ward off another outbreak."
"U.S. CDC researchers announced last week that some hibernating mosquitoes in New York City are PROBABLY still carrying the West Nile virus. The CDC said it is UNCLEAR whether the virus will persist or pose a health hazard when mosquitoes become active this spring."
To date, no one has linked the possibility of the infected birds being blown in by this Hurricane. Small point - perhaps - but should be considered. To date, no reports presented on the presence or absence of the west nile virus in ticks - a possible carrier.
Once again, state officials and the CDC are RUSHING SCIENCE DATA COLLECTION. It was clear that the CDC, in the fall, was too quick in labeling the virus West-Nile-Like; the officials were too quick in spraying either malathion or sumithrin over communities (without proper instructions to minimize people exposire); the officials are scaring people about the presence of pieces of the virus in some mosquitoes (3 of 69 sites); communities are now using LARVICIDES to try to reduce the mosquito population.
WHAT IS OUR GOAL?
It is impossible to eliminate mosquitoes. Any high school biology student knows that - when it rains, and water pools - mosquitoes breed.
Are we going to use larvicides/pesticides throught the spring, summer, fall seasons after each major rain?
Are we going to have special task forces to apply these agents in every community, every street, everywhere water pools - including wooded areas?
Are we going to drain the reservoirs or simply spray them?
Are we going to require all swimming pools to be drained and closed?
Are we going to start eliminating BIRDS - the major victims of West Nile Virus?
Remember the symptoms of west nile virus in humans are mild and often go unnoticed except in the elderly, infirmed, and those suffering from immune compromised systems.
This should not be a political or emotional situation. LET'S GET MORE FACTS BEFORE WE ATTACK OUR COMMUNITIES AND ITS MEMBERS with speculation and inuendo using pseudo-science processes.
