Sacramento, not unlike the rest of the USA, is having a problem with West Nile virus. We in California have watched this disease spread across the country, knowing that it was only a matter of time before we would be dealing with it — however one deals with this issue.
Well, Sacramento began spraying pesticides from airplanes last night, and I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts about this.
The Sacramento mosquito control district has zoomed into action a plan of spraying, with the first public notice given Friday (and the first public hearing was only Friday night.) The spraying began last night (Monday), and does not include my neighborhood — by probably a mile or so. The area where I live has now just been added as a spray sight for this weekend.
About 2 to 3 weeks ago, I started suffering from what I would describe “flu-like symptoms”, many of which overlap that which are the symptoms for West Nile fever. Apparently, 80% of people show no symptoms if bit by an infected mosquito, 20% of people have mild to moderate symptoms (which I believe I had), and a bit less than 1% have serious, life-threatening complications, such as encephalitis, meningitis, etc — at particular risk, as I’m sure you can imagine, are those with immunity issues.
No one around me has had any flu-like symptoms, and I did not have any nasal issues which are typical for me when I have the cold-type flu. I was exhausted, and suffered body aches and joint aches and was sensitive to touch, had sweats while my teeth were chattering I was so cold. That is why I am somewhat convinced that I suffered the mild-to-moderate form of West Nile fever. I’ve been told that a great way for a free test for West Nile virus is to give blood, and the bloodmobile is coming to our church — but not until the end of the month. Oh, and also I found a dead Blue Jay in our front yard in about April, which I reported to the county.
Now, I bring all of that up to provide context as to how I can understand the need for control of West Nile virus — I think I suffered from a form of it. But I have some real concerns about how the Sacramento mosquito district has been handling the situation.
First, the lack of public notice is disturbing. As a caller to my drive time talk show put it — I don’t care if they are spraying water, they should have had public hearings and clearly explained a game plan. The mosquito control district seems to be making this up as they go along, changing the times and areas being sprayed, and doing a very poor job of communicating when they will spray, other than vague statements of “8PM to about 11:30PM”. Well, last night they were out past midnight. At first, the media said there were no worries — the pesticide being used was made from chrysanthemum flowers (pyrethrins). But as time moved from Friday’s announcement through last night’s spraying, suddenly it came out that it wasn’t as simple as that. The company hired by the mosquito district would be using (from the Sacramento Bee) this stuff:
The product being used, EverGreen Crop Protection EC 60-6, lists on its label toxic ingredients such as pyrethrins, insecticides extracted from chrysanthemum flowers widely used in household and garden products, and piperonyl butoxide, or PBO, a chemical that inhibits insects’ ability to detoxify pyrethrins.
Some critics of aerial spraying said they are more concerned about PBO because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers it a “possible” cancer-causing agent that targets the liver. PBO makes up 60 percent of the insecticide, compared with 6 percent pyrethrins.
Again, on Friday we were told it was no big deal, and we need not alter our activities. Now we are told:
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District recommends staying indoors between 8 p.m. and midnight during spraying. District officials also offered guidance for those who want to take added – but not necessary – precautions as a way to feel more secure:
- Turn off air conditioning or ventilation systems in the evening hours during spraying.
- Bring patio furniture, toys and pets indoors for the evening. Cover other items left outside.
- Remove shoes before coming inside until spraying ends.
- Wash outdoor furniture or other items people may touch. But don’t create pools of water that could become new mosquito breeding grounds.
- Fruits, vegetables or herbs from gardens should be washed but will be safe to eat.
- Swimming pools do not need to be covered or drained and will be safe for swimming after the applications.
That seems a bit more involved than they first let on, and keeping a pet indoors for an extended time could become an issue — and then, one must wash the pet if one were concerned about this stuff getting on the fur. (We do not currently have any pets.)
Secondly, I just don’t know how effective this whole program is. There are no doubts that Sacramento is having some of the most incidents of West Nile virus in all of California, according to the mosquito district website.
But, the birds are the hosts — and this does nothing to control the disease in birds. Also, Northern California is home to dozens of lakes and rivers, and Sacramento is surrounded by agricultural areas. Any reduction in the adult mosquito population, I feel, will be quickly filled in by the neighboring areas.
Now, I am about to be sprayed this weekend. I am sympathetic to the need to try and prevent West Nile virus from making people sick, as I believe I had a form of it. I am neither an epidemiologist nor a pesticide expert, so I ask of anyone out there — any thoughts?
 
[editor’s note, by Intellectually Curious]
By the way, please allow me to say — in no way does this compare to the far more serious issues of the day, like those in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Cindy Sheehan and some of ours who are travelling to provide her with support. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the policies of this administration, and the poverty that is far too common in this world. Mosquitoes are a leading preventable cause of death from malaria and other diseases, and we would be far better served had we not been dropping bombs and instead using the money for mosquito nets, quinine, and developing vaccines.