The state's public health pest management program has contracted with Lee County, Florida, the 910th Air Lift Wing of the US Air Force, and several commercial sprayers to carry out the spraying. Some towns and counties are already contracting with companies to do their own ground and aerial spraying.
The insecticides that will be used to kill the adult mosquitoes are malathion and pyrethroids. Although the chemicals pose little risk to humans or animals, health officials are advising residents to stay indoors with windows and doors closed for 30 minutes after the airplane passes as a safeguard. Residents will be able to see and hear the planes as they pass overhead.
"Following Hurricane Fran, we did a risk assessment on the various pesticides used to fight mosquitoes," said Dr. Luanne Williams, a state toxicologist. "Our risk assessment shows that the malathion and pyrethroids pose little risk to humans, but do pose a risk to fish, bees and aquatic animals. As with all pesticides, you should take care to reduce or eliminate any exposure that is not absolutely necessary."
The risk to bees, fish and aquatic animals will be minimized. The planes will fly in the early morning and early evening to avoid bees, and will minimize releases of insecticides over water.
An EPA study found that malathion did not pose any significant threat to public health. In fact, officials with the state Division of Environmental Health's pest control program say that malathion is one of the most widely used home and garden pesticides. "Malathion is less toxic than many other chemical insect sprays commonly used by homeowners," said Dr. Nolan Newton, chief of the public health pest management section.
Pest management staff use about 40 sentinel chicken flocks scattered across the coastal plain to monitor for viruses like Eastern Equine Encephalitis and St. Louis Encephalitis. Testing for SLE will also reveal West Nile Virus, which is blamed for several recent deaths in New York state. Pest management staff draw blood from these chickens and test it for viruses. "Because the viruses are transmitted from birds to mosquitoes and then to humans, we can get a good early warning when there is a risk for mosquito-borne encephalitis," said Newton. "Our testing this year has found no St. Louis Encephalitis. We have found five chickens in Bladen County and one in Hyde infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis, but this was found before the storm and is normal activity for this time of year.
"We don't have a disease problem with mosquitoes right now," he added. "But, we do have a big nuisance. The recent heavy rains is causing increased numbers of mosquitoes and that's adding to the existing stress of the residents and interfering with recovery efforts."
To protect themselves from mosquitoes, residents can use repellants, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and empty water from containers in yards. Be sure to follow directions carefully when using repellants.
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