To Spray or Not to Spray? That is the question.

Poster on a New York City bus shelter (NYC Dept of Health)

Read the following news stories for some background and current events:

• West Nile virus found in Westerly, Newport Providence Journal 8/27/00
• Westerly, Aquidneck will spray for virus Providence Journal 8/28/00
• At war with West Nile Providence Journal 8/29/00
• Small caravan follows the trail of the West Nile virus Providence Journal 8/30/00
• No Groton spraying effort planned despite West Nile virus confirmation Westerly Sun 8/30/00
• Another round of spraying slated tonight Providence Journal 9/1/00
• Point and Counterpoint Hartford Courant 4/7/02 and 4/12/02
• West Nile toll could hit 16 deaths as spread continues Westerly Sun 8/23/02
• Area woman has Conn.'s first case of West Nile Westerly Sun 8/23/03
• Search results for "West Nile virus" at CNN
• Outbreak not contained Scientific American April 2000

Follow some of these other links:

• EPA Region 2's page on West Nile Virus, Mosquitoes and Pesticides (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/local/region2/westnile.htm)
• The CDC's page on West Nile Virus (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htm)
• National Pesticide Telecommunications Network's Fact Sheet on Permethrin (http://www.ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/factsheets/perm7.htm)
• National Pest Management Association's article on mosquito born illness (http://www.pestworld.org/Database/Article.asp?ArticleID=39&UserType=Consumers)

Finally, carry out your own Web search for more information on mosquitoes, West Nile virus, sumithrin, synthetic permethrins, Anvil®, Scourge® and whatever else you think is relevant.

Search WWW Search EnvironmentalET

Now, what do you think? To spray or not to?

Revised