Post by Tribune Story on Jul 18, 2004 6:43:52 GMT -8
Spray plan aims at W. Nile
www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205%257E12220%257E2279088,00.html
Arboretum hopes to halt outbreak
By Gretchen Hoffman , Staff Writer
ARCADIA -- The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden will be sprayed Tuesday with a natural pesticide in an attempt to stem the spread of the West Nile virus there, officials said.
The park area will be fogged with truck-mounted and hand- held sprayers before dawn Tuesday; the treatment is not expected to drift out into nearby neighborhoods, San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District officials said.
"This is a first, but I'm really convinced it's the right thing to do,' said Roger Chandler, a vector control district board member. "The fact that we have to take action, other than precautions - things like telling people to put on mosquito repellent - kind of tells you how serious this (virus) gets.'
The district will use the pesticide Scourge, a manmade version of a natural pesticide produced by chrysanthemum flowers. It is used in many commercial products that control insects, including pet sprays and shampoos.
The active ingredient in the pesticide breaks down quickly, leaves no residue, and poses no risks to visitors, officials said.
District officials met with arboretum staff to address concerns about the fogging's effects on wildlife; the only risks posed are to the park's koi, but with hand-held spraying, no problems are expected, Chandler said.
"It really shouldn't have any negative impact on any people or wildlife or water supplies,' Chandler said.
The spraying will target adult mosquitoes; earlier measures to target larval stages found in standing water did not control the virus.
Adult mosquitoes trapped at the arboretum in June tested positive for the West Nile virus, and chicken flocks placed by the vector control district on arboretum grounds continue to contract the virus, indicating that mosquitoes nearby are still infected.
In addition, outdoor evening programs offered at the arboretum tend to attract older visitors, who are at higher risk for severe illness, at a time in which mosquitoes are most active.
So far this year, the West Nile virus has sickened 28 people in Southern California and has been detected in almost 1,000 dead birds, 26 horses, 158 mosquito samples and 69 sentinel chickens.
Saturday visitors at the arboretum said they were not overly concerned despite warnings posted at the entrance cautioning people to avoid the area from dusk to dawn.
Arcadia resident Katina Lee said she had heard little about the virus being a problem in the area, but in long pants and a wide-brim hat, she nevertheless felt comfortable walking around the arboretum.
Kellie Marin liberally applied insect repellent to her 5-year-old daughter Bennett's bare arms and legs before going into the arboretum, a precaution she said had nothing to do with the threat of the West Nile virus.
"It's more just the bugs in general,' said Marin, who lives in Pasadena. "You can't keep (children) inside worried about every little possibility.' -- Gretchen Hoffman can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4494, or by e-mail at gretchen.hoffman@sgvn.com
www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205%257E12220%257E2279088,00.html
Arboretum hopes to halt outbreak
By Gretchen Hoffman , Staff Writer
ARCADIA -- The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden will be sprayed Tuesday with a natural pesticide in an attempt to stem the spread of the West Nile virus there, officials said.
The park area will be fogged with truck-mounted and hand- held sprayers before dawn Tuesday; the treatment is not expected to drift out into nearby neighborhoods, San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District officials said.
"This is a first, but I'm really convinced it's the right thing to do,' said Roger Chandler, a vector control district board member. "The fact that we have to take action, other than precautions - things like telling people to put on mosquito repellent - kind of tells you how serious this (virus) gets.'
The district will use the pesticide Scourge, a manmade version of a natural pesticide produced by chrysanthemum flowers. It is used in many commercial products that control insects, including pet sprays and shampoos.
The active ingredient in the pesticide breaks down quickly, leaves no residue, and poses no risks to visitors, officials said.
District officials met with arboretum staff to address concerns about the fogging's effects on wildlife; the only risks posed are to the park's koi, but with hand-held spraying, no problems are expected, Chandler said.
"It really shouldn't have any negative impact on any people or wildlife or water supplies,' Chandler said.
The spraying will target adult mosquitoes; earlier measures to target larval stages found in standing water did not control the virus.
Adult mosquitoes trapped at the arboretum in June tested positive for the West Nile virus, and chicken flocks placed by the vector control district on arboretum grounds continue to contract the virus, indicating that mosquitoes nearby are still infected.
In addition, outdoor evening programs offered at the arboretum tend to attract older visitors, who are at higher risk for severe illness, at a time in which mosquitoes are most active.
So far this year, the West Nile virus has sickened 28 people in Southern California and has been detected in almost 1,000 dead birds, 26 horses, 158 mosquito samples and 69 sentinel chickens.
Saturday visitors at the arboretum said they were not overly concerned despite warnings posted at the entrance cautioning people to avoid the area from dusk to dawn.
Arcadia resident Katina Lee said she had heard little about the virus being a problem in the area, but in long pants and a wide-brim hat, she nevertheless felt comfortable walking around the arboretum.
Kellie Marin liberally applied insect repellent to her 5-year-old daughter Bennett's bare arms and legs before going into the arboretum, a precaution she said had nothing to do with the threat of the West Nile virus.
"It's more just the bugs in general,' said Marin, who lives in Pasadena. "You can't keep (children) inside worried about every little possibility.' -- Gretchen Hoffman can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4494, or by e-mail at gretchen.hoffman@sgvn.com