Originally published September 23 2005
San Jose officials attempt to assuage citizens' fears over West Nile pesticide spraying
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
San Jose-area citizens expressed concern over the health risks of pesticides used to control the West Nile virus in the area, but, Mercury News reports, officials attempted to assuage residents' fears and Daniel Strickman, a vector ecologist, said there was "zero percent chance" of human harm from the chemicals.
Attempting to allay concerns from residents at a community meeting Tuesday night, county officials repeatedly assured them no harm would come from an insecticide set to be sprayed in San Jose to combat the West Nile virus.
Thursday, Santa Clara County's Vector Control District plans to spray two South San Jose neighborhoods -- around Branham Lane and Snell Avenue, and part of Blossom Valley surrounding La Colina Park -- to eliminate infected mosquitoes discovered in the areas.
All the mosquitoes and most of the 62 dead birds with the virus were found in those neighborhoods and pose the greatest health threat to residents.
Beginning at midnight tonight until 4 a.m.
Thursday, trucks with mounted foggers will spray the chemical Pyrenone 25-5 -- a plant-based poison that will kill adult mosquitoes on contact but is not harmful to humans or pets, officials said.
More than 100 residents attended the meeting at the South Side Community Center, sponsored by the district and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
``This is the least toxic you can get,'' said Dr. Martin Fenstersheib, the Santa Clara County Public Health Officer.
Some wondered if the spray would ruin their car paint while others were critical of the fogging itself.
``You have been irresponsible in not having done the risk factor analysis prior to spraying,'' said William Garbett, a longtime resident in one of the affected neighborhoods.
Councilman Forrest Williams, whose district includes the neighborhoods being sprayed, wondered what attracted the infected mosquitoes to those particular areas and if the city could do something to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding.
West Nile Virus is spread to humans bitten by an infected mosquito and is not transmitted from person to person.
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