Posted on 08/28/2017 8:21:03 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Is there West Nile virus at the New York state fair?
That's a natural suspicion that arises out of some unusual conduct Wednesday by the Onondaga County Health Department.
Another suspicion that arises is that the department may have changed its practices -- and possibly endangered public health -- in order to avoid hurting attendance at the fair or raising embarrassing questions while the governor was in town.
Here's the background.
Each summer, the Onondaga County Health Department tests mosquitoes for the presence of the West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis. It does this by placing traps in wet areas and then examining the bodily fluids of the captured mosquitoes.
When a positive result is found -- typically when a mosquito is determined to have the West Nile virus -- a public alert is issued telling people of the result and where the infected mosquito was found. The purpose is to warn people about the presence of the potentially deadly virus so that they might take appropriate precautions -- such as avoiding the area or dressing protectively and using repellents.
In every instance turned up by a computer search, that is how the matter has been handled by the Onondaga County Health Department.
Until yesterday.
Which was the opening day of the Great New York State Fair, and a day at which the governor was present and honored.
Yesterday, the health department announced that its traps had turned up two infected mosquitoes. One in the town of Cicero and one in the town of Geddes. Geddes is where the fair is held. Interestingly, the health department handled these notifications differently.
The location of the Cicero mosquito was released -- in keeping with county practice. But the location of the Geddes mosquito was not -- a deviation from county practice.
The health department notified the public that a mosquito carrying the West Nile virus was caught on East Taft Road -- near the Cicero Swamp Wildlife Management Area. That was apparently for folks who might be surprised there are mosquitoes in a swamp.
The health department would not say where in Geddes it caught the infected mosquito. Instead, it said location didn't matter because people should take precautions against mosquitoes all the time no matter where they are.
Then why test and announce locations at all?
And why, in previous years, when infected mosquitoes have turned up in Geddes were specific locations announced?
Presumably the practice of the department of releasing the specific location helps protect public health -- or why would they do it? -- and so conversely failing to release the specific location would seem to endanger public health.
The only thing different about this town at this time is the fair.
Upstate bump
The more people know, the better off they are. We’ve had plenty of rain in NY. Let’s be wise. The population is entitled to the best info available.
In NY, west nile should be the least of your worries.
Here it is almost September, in a wet year for us. Where is all that ZIKA they have been frightening us with!
Here in NYC, I can attest that this has been a horrible year for mosquitoes. I made sure we don’t have any buckets, lids, or any sort of container holding water, and that the gutters are clean so water can’t pool there. But any part of me not sprayed with a DEET rich concoction has been targeted within a couple of minutes of being outside, even when it’s not night. So if I want to spend time in my garden or hanging out with neighbors, I have to spray up and turn on my Thermacell. Even then, any gaps will be exploited by these nasty skeeters.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.