Headline, "Encephalitis is found in state bugs"
For those of you unfamiliar, I will explain..
The potentially deadly St.Louis encephalitis virus was found in mosquitoes in Greenich and Westport
Connecticut.( Actually, Greenich is next door to Stamford- 75th annual ISA meeting) Apparently, three elderly people have died and there
have been 12 confirmed cases of the virus
in New York,(which borders Greenich, CT.) since late August.
The recent heavy rains from 'you- know -who' had apparently flushed out the aquatic mosquito larvae, which were thriving
in catch basins. Any puddle that lasts 4 days is sufficient for breeding.
The state will be ground spraying which, they say, will be more effective and take less time to set up
then helicopter misting.

I am curious what chemical they will be using?? I haven't heard anything. The virus is carried in birds which suffer
no ill affects. Many people are staying in doors down in the Fairfield County area and are taking precautions when they
do venture out.

Be careful Scott, your right in the middle of this...

Kim

Reply to post by Kim, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

I hadn't heard about the 3 elderly deaths in Greenwich. NY Times reported yesterday that spraying was to begin in Old Greenwich yesterday or today using "Scourge" described as a synthetic product derived from or similar to a natural Crysanthemum product. I assume that means its a syntehtic Pyrethroid. Supposed to break down in 2-3 hours of UV light (read sun).

I've never used the material but have used Pyrethrum (with Rotenone) and they are great knock down materials. (Rotenone however is very toxic to fish so I'd guess that's why not good in mosquitoe control).

This is pretty serious stuff. Greenwich has banned all use of outdoor fields for school sports activities and advised all kids indoors after 5:00 PM. Rumor of Greenwich High teams to be taken out of state for practice each afternoon on a fleet of parent supplied corporate jets is unconfirmed.

From a practical standpoint most of the municipalities are still reeling from the storm damage (more roads than trees) and don't have the manpower to be out spraying puddles.

Reply to post by Kim, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

Working in NY City just south of the Westchester county line I am in the area that has been sprayed for the past two weeks. NY City is using helicopters everywhere except Manhattan for the applications and they are using Malathion. They have come through and sprayed the garden 4 times, usually at about 6:00 pm. Talk about stink!

I understand that Westchester County NY is beginning to spray as well however they too are using a different product than the city.

Wayne

Reply to post by Wayne Cahilly, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

I understand that this evening, probably as I write this, they are spraying Fairfield County in CT. The three people that died were from NY but
I am not sure how close to Connecticut.

I feel sorry for you Wayne, being so intimate with Malathion an all... Pee-heww!
I hope "Scounge" smells abit better. Can't say I have heard of that product before, perhaps it is a new name for a well-known product??

Kim

Reply to post by Scott, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

Yesterday's NY Times reports spraying ongoing in Westchester County, NY with "Anvil," described as less potent than malathion which is being used in NYC, another synthetic crysanthemum type material.

I suggested that these were probably synthetic pyrethroids, but now I'm wondering if pyrethrum comes from crysanthemums or marigolds. Anybody remember?

Radio news reports that CT may consider helicopter application if wider scale spraying is needed. Aerial applications in CT are allowed only for public health purposes if I recall DEP regs properly. No agricultural, forestry, etc. There was a great deal of discussion about it in the early '80 gypsy moth infestations. Now that I think about it some state forests might have been aerial treated but only with BT, no chemical materials. In any case it's a hot button.

Typical controversy emerging in NYS. Reports of the health food store passing out petions to stop all spraying... "pesticides are the real health threat, SLE is a made up threat..." Irrespective of one's understanding on that suggestion, the political and acceptance implications are a real concern for the public health administrator.

On a related note, there was recent discussion at the UN or WHO or somewhere that a suggestion to ban worldwide production and application of DDT (which remains widely used outside US) is ill-considered because of the re-emergence of malaria in many third world countries. Drug resistant strains of many disease causing organisms also put an emphasis on vector control. And the "Walter Reed" solution of draining swamps and marshlands and filling in water holes does not mesh well with today's environmental ethic.

Reply to post by Scott, on September 23, 1999 at 06:44:41:

The source back in the good old days before lab production I believe was Crysanthemum cinerariaefolium and C. coccineum flower heads.

Who knows how its manufactured these days.

Wayne

Reply to post by Kim, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

By now you all may have heard the virus carried by mosquitos is a West Nile strain, previously unknown in this hemisphere. It was identified after zoo birds and crows died. Another reminder that as mobility and trade increase worldwide, so does the potential for the introduction of exotics.

Reply to post by Mark Goodwin, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

Today's NY area radio reports indicate all the fatalities in NYS are now confirmed to be from a West Nile "like" virus, I think an encephalitis virus. And the West Niles are supposed to be less deadly than SLE! I'll confirm with my neighbor neurologist when I see him and advise.

Saw a dead crow in a NYC park today with flies already working the corpse. That raises the question if flies can also be vectors.

Reply to post by Scott, on September 27, 1999 at 22:09:09:

Today's Stamford (CT) Advocate indicates "Scourge" is a trade name for Resmethrin and it is toxic to fish.

Reply to post by Wayne, on September 25, 1999 at 07:23:09:

Lions, tigers, mosquitoes??, Oh My.

Reply to post by Kim, on September 27, 1999 at 17:44:45:

Follow the yellow brick road......

Reply to post by Kim, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

Local press reports N. Westchester County, NY to be helicopter treated starting 10/4 using synthetic Pyrethroids. Days for specific areas have been published so residents can close windows, take the baby inside or go to Canada (Kim) as they choose. County Exec states, "we're not going to wait arount for isolations from all the bird carcases, we're ging to assume infection and control the critters."

My neurologist neighbor indicates West Like like strains appear to be a little less nasty than SLE. "Fewer of the ones that get it will die."

Reply to post by Scott, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

Monday night they cancelled because of rain. Last night and tonight they cancelled because of low temperatures. The synthetic pyrethroids apparently have active periods of only a few hours and they need to contact insects. They schedule for early evening when they are most active. But we've been below 50 degrees these nights and at that temperature they are not active so no contact, no pay-off in application. Frost and freeze warning for adjoining counties to the north tonight. But tested birds continue to be positive for WNLE. So until a really good freeze I suspect the danger remains.

Reply to post by Kim, on September 22, 1999 at 19:34:45:

Fascinating story in yesterday's NY Times about local and state officials getting something of a weak response from CDC in indentifying the West Nile like virus. State DEC, Bronx Zoo and various health dept. researchers sent samples to Fort Dietrich (bilogical weapons guys) and UC Irvine among other places, called in personal favors and isolated WNLE before CDC did.

Curious coincidence that an Iraqi defector was quoted in April as saying Sassam was working on WNLE as a biological weapon... no connection established but the feds are now looking at this NY experience as a model for better reporting and quick evaluation of data to head off potential terrorist or act-of-war introduction of biological threats.

Story should be on-line. Search for NY Times.