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Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002
Posted by: Ninivaggi, Dominick (Dominick.Ninivaggi@co.suffolk.ny.us)

Frankly, I think most of us in government have tried to keep the risk of WNV and mosquitoes in general in some kind of perspective. I know I don't want people flooding my office with spray requests every time they see a mosquito. Still, it's hard to motivate people to empty bird baths, repair their screens and support our wonderful program without also communicating that the alternative is something that's not very nice. We try to describe that alternative as accurately as possible. I will leave it to others to judge whether describing mosquito control materials as "poisons","deadly chemicals" or "hormone disruptors" represents a fair portrayal of the hazards associated with their use.

-----Original Message-----
From: barbara ray [mailto:brayowc@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 2:24 PM
To: WESTNILEVIRUS-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Re: WNV Relative Risk, follow up Levitan and Lampman's comments

In Ohio, where WNV reared up big time in raptors especially from July-early October, it was difficult to even keep the "professionals" (the rehabbers and veterinarians treating sick and dying animals, mostly birds) from "over-reacting, but then most centers lost an average of 2 of their permanent collection raptors and some zoos lost much higher averages than that. Many citizens found sick or dead birds throughout their neighborhoods and even rural folks were bringing in birds, which is less typical in "normal" years.

The media basically seemes to do a good job here giving out information from the CDC and not making this disease a disproportionate item. In fact, most printed articles reminded people of the 20,000+ people that die from influenza each year compared to the small number of fatalities from WNV.

In talking to people from all over the state, most folks involved with widllife conservation are mostly concerned with WNV effect longterm in endangered and species of concern such as the bald eagle and peregrine population. Horse owners have settled down quite a bit now that they are more aware of the initial symptoms, as horses are VERY treatable if treatment begins right away and the horse is not suffering from another problem more detrimental than the WNV. The vaccine of course has also been used on thousands of horses in Ohio.

WNV is clearly epizootic in birds here in Ohio and is perceived as fairly low-risk to humans and the public seems satisfied they have been given information how to reduce mosquito breeding areas, protect themselves from bites etc.; some communities spray and larvicide though many folks are of the opinion that the chemical risks may be worse than WNV! We still have a LOT more educating to do and this is a slow process as getting answers to the many yet-unanswered questions trickle in!

Barbara Ray
Conservation/Education Director
Ohio Wildlife Center
Columbus, Ohio
614-734-9453

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