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4.14.2001 00:04
Massachusetts
to limit spraying
for West Nile
BOSTON (AP) -- Pesticide ground spraying for West Nile virus will no longer automatically occur in areas where an infected bird is found, a state public health official said.
"Spraying is no longer warranted around individual birds," said Ralph Timperi, director of the Department of Public Health's state laboratory. "Last year, the recommendation was to spray wherever we found a dead bird. This year we know that birds dying alone is not a good indicator of human risk."
However, if large numbers of dead birds are found in any particular area, Timperi said, "we'll go out and do intensive mosquito testing in those areas. The bar for spraying is higher."
The final decision to spray will depend on the numbers of infected mosquitoes found, and would be made by state and local officials, he said.
Rhode Island announced a similar policy this week, saying that in accordance with new federal guidelines, spraying will be avoided except when a team of experts identifies a threat to human health.
West Nile virus was first detected in Massachusetts in a dead crow found in Jamaica Plain July 26 of last year. The virus was responsible for seven deaths in New York in 1999.
Last year, there were 448 infected birds found in Massachusetts, but no cases of human infection.
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