Dallas begins aerial assault on West Nile virus

Plane that was to be used for aerial spraying in Dallas on tarmac Thursday / AP Photo/LM Otero

(CBS/AP) DALLAS -- Dallas County launched an aerial assault on the mosquito population for the first time in 45 years Thursday as part of an emergency measure to stem the nation's worst outbreak of West Nile virus, which has killed 10 people and sickened at least 230 others.

Two twin engine planes began targeting 49,000 acres in Dallas County late Thursday night, flying at an altitude of 300 feet, according to CBS station KTVT-TV. At least a dozen cities in the county will be part of the aerial spraying program, reports CBS News correspondent Manual Bojorquez.

Although commonplace in other major cities, the efforts have provoked a debate in the Dallas area between health officials trying to reduce the risk of disease and people concerned about insecticidal mist drifting down from above.

"I cannot have any more deaths on my conscience because we did not take action," Mayor Mike Rawlings said.

The home of former President George W. Bush is an area that was scheduled to be sprayed, but it is one of several places pilots were told to avoid, it, according to KTVT.

Nearly half of all West Nile cases in the United States so far this year are in Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If the trend continues, 2012 will be the worst West Nile year in state history.

The hot, dry weather across the nation's midsection has created ideal conditions for some species of mosquito. The heat speeds up their life cycle, which accelerates the virus replication process. And during a drought, standing water can quickly turn stagnant when it's not flushed away by rain or runoff.

In a coincidence Thursday, a Texas jury further south in DeWitt County awarded nearly $1 million to a Union Pacific employee who says he contracted West Nile virus while on the job after Hurricane Ike in 2008. Attorney Michael Sheppard said railroad worker Billy Nami, 62, lost more than half his cognitive function after being infected.

Both the mayor and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins have declared a state of emergency and voiced their support for an aerial defense. Yet even with the threat of infection, the spraying has sparked widespread opposition from people who fear the chemicals could be harmful.

"It's something new there that has not been used in quite a number of years," said Dr. Roger Nasci of the CDC, explaining the public's worries. "Anything novel comes with that unknown factor."

Because of the severity of the outbreak, the Texas Health Department is stepping in to oversee the effort and to pay for it.

"This year is totally different from the experience Texas has had in the past," state Health Commissioner Dr. David Lakey said. "If it's nuisance mosquitoes, we ask the city or county to pay part of that. But in the midst of this disease outbreak, it's easier for us to go ahead and do it."

One county-wide application costs about $1 million. A second application is possible if the first attempt does not kill enough mosquitoes.

Critics have also questioned whether the approach is scientifically proven to reduce West Nile cases. But at least one study in California concluded that the odds of infection are about six times lower in treated areas than those that are untreated.

Still, some residents fear the chemicals could harm their children, pets and useful insects such as honeybees and ladybugs.

The chemical released from the planes, synthetic pyrethroid, mimics a naturally occurring substance found in chrysanthemums. The Environmental Protection Agency has said that pyrethroids do not pose a significant risk to wildlife or the environment, though no pesticide is 100 percent safe.

About eight-tenths of an ounce of chemical is applied per acre, said Laura McGowan, a Clarke spokeswoman.

The insecticide's common name is Duet Dual-Action Adulticide. The label says it's toxic to fish and other types of aquatic life, and it contains distilled petroleum.

In states like California and Florida, aerial spraying is a "run-of-the-mill" response to West Nile, McGowan said.

When the mosquito population gets to be a certain level, "they automatically go up," she said. "They do it as a matter of course."

Kelly Nash, who lives in Dallas and works for an environmental consulting firm, questions whether the county is advocating for a controlled oil spill.

"One ounce an acre doesn't sound like much, but we will spray at least 2,000 gallons all over the city," Nash said. "A 2,000-gallon oil spill would be significant. I'm concerned that we're breeding resistant mosquitoes that next time will have Dengue fever or something worse."

Harris County, which includes humid, mosquito-filled Houston, has used aerial spraying once a year since 2002, the year the virus was first detected in Texas. The county uses ground spraying first and moves to aerial spraying as the virus spreads.

"We can't be everywhere at all times," Mosquito Control Director Dr. Rudy Bueno said. "Aerial treatment is a way to supplement what we do on the ground."

Most people infected with West Nile virus won't get sick, but about one in 150 people will develop the severe form of the illness. Symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

Jordan Conner, 14, spent eight days in intensive care with the most severe form of West Nile virus. Her mother, Ebonie Conner of Arlington, said she doesn't approve of aerial spraying and wishes local leaders would do more to educate the community.

"We've been desensitized to West Nile virus," Conner said. "It's been ingrained in us that it affects older people and infants. I think they need to pass out insect repellent, mention it in back-to-school drives."

[racerjerry]

You can read a copy of Michael C. Carroll's book: "Lab 257" if you want to know why we have a problem with the West Nile Virus. Budget cuts at Plum Island did not hamper "research" in this war laboratory, but it sure did impact safety considerations. Instead of the government burying this problem, we need to recognize and learn from it or the same disaster will be repeated.

Hmmm, not too different from our recent Wall Street / government fiasco.

[MoorishSword]

We are being sprayed with chemtrials or strange particles from planes flying at higher altitudes and now sprayed by planes flying at a lower altitude because of some man made virus?? what is the CDC if Plum Island exsist?? Did ancient peoples need this nonsense in the air? NO but yet we are here & we think we are so much more educated. They have masses distracted with vanity & emotionalism to see whats really being done to them.. question why did they avoid spraying George Bush former home?? We are being sprayed like **** roaches!!

[DigitalDoppelganger]

you took your furniture out and burned it? So you took furniture (made up of polyester, glues, varnished wood, plastics, etc) that was coated in a pesticide you KNEW to be dangerous... and decided to BURN it... what a BRILLIANT idea.

Did you throw some tires on the pile while you were at it too?

And you're concerned about getting hit with a few micron sized droplets that will probably never even find their way into the air column you happen to breathing in?

[cbuoscio]

Illinois never stopped spraying this poison in the air. After the last spraying, all the robins in the neighborhood left. Here's what's in the MSDS of the spray.

Permethrin
Permethrin does not present any notable genotoxicity or immunotoxicity in humans and farm animals, but is classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a likely human carcinogen, based on reproducible studies in which mice fed permethrin developed liver and lung tumors.[1

Permethrin is toxic to cats. Many cats die after being given flea treatments intended for dogs, or by contact with dogs having recently been treated with permethrin.

Piperonyl butoxide
Safety and toxicity
Its acute oral and dermal toxicity in mammals is low with LD50 of 7,500 to 6,150 mg/kg when orally administered to rats.
A 2011 study found a significant association between piperonyl butoxide in personal air collected during the third trimester of pregnancy and delayed mental development at 36 months. Children who were more highly exposed in personal air samples scored 3.9 points lower on the Mental Developmental Index than those with lower exposures. The lead researcher stated, "This drop in IQ points is similar to that observed in lead exposure. While perhaps not impacting an individual's overall function, it is educationally meaningful and could shift the distribution of children in the society who would be in need of early intervention services."

[credibility2]

Enviro-terrorists would rather protect a deadly insect versus wanting to protect human life.

[displeased2]

There are other methods that are quite simple. First, remove sources of standing water around the house. Go outside when the mosquitoes are less active, or if you do have to go outside during peak times, use bug spray. That way you're poisoning yourself and not the entire environment around you. Wear mosquito netting. I've done all of these things and it works.

[kbbpll]

If it's anything like the 2003 outbreak in CO, this spraying is too late, cases will spike in about two weeks, and the CDC stats are completely misleading because they only count positive tests, and they only test you if you end up in the hospital. Otherwise your doctor will say "the test is too expensive and there's nothing we can do about West Nile anyway". In 2003 CDC says we had 2947 cases, and 63 people died. Judging by the rate among friends and coworkers, I'd say we had 10,000 cases in Ft Collins alone. Good luck, Dallas.

[johnlockesghost]

I see that regardless of the topic, the idiocy of politics skews the discussion.

As I read this article, planes were delivering their morning breakfast for the mosquitoes in coastal Carolina. I don't recall there being any notification that spraying was to take place this day, what the chemical components of the spray are, or if pets are endangered by it. Other than a general, low level comment concerning this event, nothing more was forthcoming from local authorities. I should think that a simple announcement on ones TV would suffice.