In Anderson
By Stan Welch – Dozens of public health officials, elected officials and first responders from across the Upstate gathered at the Anderson Civic Center to share information about the latest public health scare, the Zika virus, which is spread primarily by a mosquito bite. The virus has been linked to serious birth defects when present in pregnant women.
According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta six hundred twenty four women within the United States have shown laboratory evidence of the virus, but the virus detection system has shortcomings. That number increases to nine hundred seventy one when the U.S. Territories, such as Puerto Rico and Guam, are included. Pregnant women are encouraged to be tested as soon as possible.
South Florida is the hotspot for the virus in the States at this time, and women who are pregnant or nursing newborns are advised not to travel to that area. While the bite of the infected mosquito is the main means of transmission, it can also be sexually transmitted by those who have the virus. Adding to the risk is the fact that many of those infected never exhibit symptoms, and so go undiagnosed.
Among the main topics on the agenda Tuesday were some of the medical issues associated with the virus, how the virus can affect pets, mosquito control strategies, and the possible effects of the pesticides used on bees and other pollinating insects.
A situation that occurred recently in Dorchester County, which resulted in the extermination of huge numbers of bees, has helped spark interest in and awareness of the problem. The discontinuation of many prior spraying programs has led to a rebound in the mosquito populations in various areas. According to media reports, a communication failure with the bee keeping community played a major role in that disaster.
The use of aerial spraying, which is the most efficient in covering large areas quickly, lends itself to damaging bee populations, and, according to the CDC, should be limited to dawn and dusk applications, when the bees are in their hives and protected.
Naled is the pesticide most often used in aerial spraying programs. It has been in use since the 1950s. Aerial spraying is often used following hurricanes or other major flooding events.
Several of the county representatives indicated that their first efforts will be focused on trouble areas where mosquito populations breed, such as stagnant bodies of water, abandoned tires which collect rainwater and provide breeding locations, and similar places.
Such spraying efforts are expensive, which led to their curtailment in recent years.
