Contact: Christine Miller 919-715-3204
Date: September 25, 2003 Distribution: Statewide
North Carolina To Begin Mosquito Spraying In Areas Affected By Isabel
RALEIGH- Mosquito populations can increase by 500-1,000 percent in the wake of a hurricane, and that could mean an increase in incidence of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. To combat this, the state hopes to begin aerial spraying for mosquitoes in parts of 22 counties declared as disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as early as Saturday, September 27. The need to spray will be determined by whether the areas will experience an increased risk of vector-borne disease as a result of Hurricane Isabel. Spraying schedules and maps should be available on Friday.
“ North Carolina was already experiencing a record-breaking number of human and animal cases of mosquito-borne disease this year. If the mosquito populations are allowed to explode, those numbers will only increase,” said Dr. Leah Devlin, State Health Director. “We don’t want our citizens exposed to the increased public health risk, so we’re hoping to spray for mosquitoes to reduce their numbers. People should take precautions to avoid exposure to the insecticide when the spraying is going on. They should also continue to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.”
Although a person’s chances of experiencing any health effects from spraying are quite low, the North Carolina Division of Public Health offers the following steps to reduce exposures to insecticides during spraying:
•Know the spray schedule-pay attention to the local TV, radio and newspapers for announcements about spraying.
•Remain indoors when pesticides are sprayed in your immediate area.
•Keep children inside during spraying and for at least one hour after spraying ends.
•Do not let children play near or behind truck-mounted pesticide applicators.
•Close windows and doors before spraying begins.
•Window-unit air conditioners should be turned off or set to “recirculate” mode so outside air does not come into the house during the spraying. Leave them off for at least one hour after spraying ends or continue to operate on the recirculate setting for an hour.
•If you must remain outside during spraying, avoid getting spray in your eyes or on your skin.
•If you get insecticide in your eyes, immediately rinse them with water.
•Wash exposed skin surfaces with soap and water if you come in contact with the insecticide.
•Wash homegrown fruits and vegetables thoroughly before cooking or eating.
The spraying will be an ultra-low volume (ULV) application of the insecticide naled. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency naled is used for controlling adult mosquitoes and also used on food and feed crops and in greenhouses. When applied in accordance with the label’s rate of application and the safety precautions, naled can be used without posing unreasonable risks to human health or to the environment. EPA has estimated the exposure and risks to both adults and children by ULV applications as hundreds or even thousands of times below an amount that might pose a health risk.
Naled degrades rapidly in the environment and displays low toxicity to birds and mammals. Naled is highly toxic to insects, however, including honeybees. Beekeepers are encouraged to visit the following
websites to take precautions
The Centers for Disease Control are conducting a health study spraying in the Isabel-affected area.
People chosen for the study will fill out a questionnaire before and after their area is sprayed, answering questions about their use and exposure to pesticides. They will also give a urine sample prior to and after the spraying. The CDC will test those samples to see if there has been any unusual exposure to pesticides as a result of the mosquito-spraying. No one should interpret this study to mean that the mosquito-spraying is dangerous to them or their families. Spraying will reduce the very real threat of mosquito borne illness in the Isabel-affected area. For questions about the CDC study, contact the Department of Health and Human Services at 919 733 9190.
Information on naled is available at the following sites.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
http://doacs.state.fl.us/~aes/westnile2001/Naled%20Response010803.pdf
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