This January and February, there were quite big headlines about the virus called Zika. According to the Brazilian government, the Zika-carrying mosquitos caused a small rise in reports of the condition known as microcephaly (1), (2)- babies born with unusually small heads.
The U.S., along with many other nations, overreacted to the news by elevating mosquito eradication efforts in the states (3). Early exaggerated estimates showed that about 60% of the U.S. population, approximately 200 million Americans, will be infected with the virus this summer (4).
Similar to President Bush’s statement that more than 200 million Americans will die from Bird Flu. Since it was eleven years ago, it was probably time for another scare to sell more vaccines and chemicals. The statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (5) reveal the U.S. is nowhere close to such numbers.
So far, Florida and New York, which are the 2 states with the highest rates of lab-confirmed infections of this virus, have had 507 and 625 cases respectively. Florida accounts for 19% of all U.S. cases, while New York for 23% of the total.
Although most of the U.S. Zika cases appeared while traveling elsewhere, there were 35 locally acquired cases only in Florida and none in the other states. Puerto Rico had 13,791 locally acquired Zika cases by the end of August 2016. In the U.S. territory of the Virgin Islands, there were 221 such cases, and 47 in American Samoa.
The Call for DDT Was Left Unanswered
As the virus scare increased, various journalists from popular media outlets and groups like the Manhattan Institute asked for DDT to return to the CDC to address the Zika-carrying mosquito problem. On June 6th, The New York Post released an article asking for the end of the DDT ban (7). During pregnancy, DDT gains direct access to the fetus and its brain Moms Clean Air Force, as it can pass freely through the placenta (9).
Moreover, it has been associated with Alzheimer’s (10), premature delivery, decreased fertility, and believe it or not, microcephaly (11). How ironic is that (12)? Luckily DDT is still banned, although many states use other hazardous pesticides.
New York and Florida Being Heavily Sprayed
The insecticide Naled started to be used in aerial spraying against the Zika-carrying mosquitoes in Miami-Dade County, Florida on August 4. Once residents of Puerto Rico learned that the insecticide was banned in the EU, they started protesting on the streets. Finally, Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla ordered the CDC to return the shipments (13). There were street protests in Wynwood, Miami too, but unfortunately without any noticeable success.
On the nights of August 31 and September 1, 2016, neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, were doused with Anvil and Duet KHN insecticides from trucks, with the purpose of fighting the Zika-carrying mosquitos or those carrying the West Nile Virus (15), (16). Orange County, California was also doused with Duet Waking Times. The content of Duet includes 2 pyrethroid pesticides (18), Prallethrin and Sumithrin, plus piperonyl butoxide, PBO- a synergistic compound that increases the effectiveness of the former two.
PBO damages the fetal brain, which leads to profound developmental defects, while Sumethrin is a neurotoxin, endocrine disruptor, and probably carcinogen. The latest research shows that children living in areas where pyrethroids (like Anvil and Duet) are annually sprayed have an increased risk of autism by 25%, in comparison with those from areas with pellets distributed on the ground as a controlling measure of mosquitos.
As you can see, the very method of application is important for human health CDC, (20). Pyrethroids exposure during the third semester has been proven to raise the risk of autism in the child by 87% in Healthy Children. Pellets of VectoBac and Altosid were released from a low-flying helicopter over Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island earlier this summer (22). The Vaccine Reaction explains that the chemicals used to combat the Zica-carrying mosquitos could create a serious local health crisis. Médicos de Pueblos Fumigados is one Argentinian organization that believes the microcephaly cases are caused by an insect growth regulator similar to Altosid.
Aerial Spraying – Ineffective Strategy for Controlling Zika
Aedes aegypti mosquitos, which are said to carry the virus, Zika, have a very limited range of flight. This means that it’s very hard to catch them airborne, making the insecticides useless for controlling them, Healthy Children. A new lab study suggests that female mosquitoes can transmit the virus to their eggs and offspring, making the control programs focused on mosquito spreads unable to stop the spread of Zika. Although the spraying might reduce the transition, it can’t eliminate Zika, because spraying adult mosquitos doesn’t destroy the eggs and larvae (24).
CDC Supports Aerial Spraying Relying on Unpublished Data
Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC Director agrees with Brendan Carter’s presentation on aerial insecticide sprayings, explaining that aerial usage of “ultra-low volumes of insecticide” lowered caged Aedes aegypti by over 90% in a field trial in New Orleans.
Yale University professor emeritus of forestry and environmental studies and professor of microbial diseases, Durland Fish, [Ph.D.], says he can’t find any published reports that support Carter’s theory. In 2014, he worked with public officials in Dominica to combat another disease spread by Aedes aegypti type of mosquito, called the chikungunya virus. They discovered that this type of mosquito is a domestic one, living inside the home- under the bed, in the sink, and in closets. That’s why, he says, spraying outside won’t show effective results (25).
Is It Wise Micro-Mist Enter Your Home?
The American Mosquito Control Association spokesman, Joseph Conlon, says that Fish’s notion is outdated, as Naled can now enter our homes through bathroom vents and screen doors (26) as it can be sprayed in a micro-fine mist. But what about the people living in those homes, especially pregnant women and children, who will inhale this organophosphate insecticide?
Naled has been proven to interfere with the activity of the enzyme crucial for the function of the nervous system, called cholinesterase. Organophosphates are also associated with lowered IQ, shortened pregnancies, and increased chances of ADD (attention deficit disorder) in Healthy Children. The Extension Toxicology Network states that this organophosphate insecticide is moderate to highly toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. Naled fumes or vapors are corrosive to the mucous membranes lining the lungs, throat, and mouth, and breathing in can cause serious irritation, Healthy Children.
If any contact occurs, you should wash your skin immediately, as it will quickly be absorbed. An added concern when Naled is sprayed in sunny and hot areas like Florida is that high temperatures and UV light boost its toxicity.
Naled Reduces Bee Populations in South Carolina
On the morning of August 28, 2016, Dorchester County, South Carolina was also sprayed with Naled, and the consequences were devastating. That same morning, 2.5 million bees were dead in only one apiary in Summerville. As you can imagine, many more bee farmers claimed massive losses.
But for them, the reason was well-known. Their bees were poisoned and killed by Dorchester’s insecticide efforts which were changed for the first time in this area- instead of ground-based, Naled was dispersed in the air in the form of fine mist (29).
Usually, counties that use Naled, spray it at night since they know it’s highly toxic to bees who are foraging out in the morning. Bee farmers then have enough time to shield their hives, if warned on time. Jason Ward, the Dorchester County administrator, states that only one bee farmer on the county’s contact list wasn’t informed about the spraying. But, the list didn’t include many more local bee farmers, so the damage is much larger than they reveal.
The Governor of Florida Has Financial Interest in Zika Mosquito Control
The great risk of aerial pesticides on human and bee health, and the limited risk of the virus Zika, make any person wonder what’s driving this decision. People in Florida wonder if Governor Rick Scott has a personal stake in releasing chemical warfare.
The governor allocated $26.2 million in emergency funds in Florida to fight Zika, on June 23, 2016. But, as Florida Bulldog reports (30), this generous release of funds was influenced by an undisclosed conflict of interest. His wife owns a multi-million dollar stake in a Zika mosquito control company through a private investment firm she co-owns. That company is MCS, or Mosquito Control Services LLC of Metairie, LA.
Zika Might Be Hyped to Prevent Ban for Toxic Insecticides
According to Erin Elizabeth Organic Consumers, the true reason for the hype might be connected to the notion that both, Naled and Malathion- the main chemical weapons against the virus, need to be re-evaluated by the US Environmental Protection Agency under a special provision of the Endangered Species Act. They will be banned if discovered to harm endangered species, of course, unless they are kept on the market due to sufficient political pressure.
According to the Clean Water Act, all insecticides released into U.S. waters must have an NPDES permit (32). This type of permission includes limits on the discharges, and some reporting and monitoring requirements to make sure the chemical doesn’t harm the quality of water and human health. Even though Naled and Malathion weren’t immediately banned under the Endangered Species Act, they need to show that is harmless to endangered species so that operators could get an NPDES permit.
Congress was lobbied to pass HR 935 by the American Mosquito Control Association, which would mean freeing mosquito control operations from the requirement of the NPDES permit. In other words, permitting them to discharge any chemical in any amount, without reporting or monitoring requirements. HR 935 was suddenly called under the name “Zika Control Act” when Congress stayed unreceptive to the suggestion. But, when the Congres return from recess, they might be forced to vote for this devastating bill if the panic about Zika increases.
Although Zika hasn’t seriously harmed anyone in America and hasn’t been proven to be the main cause of microcephaly cases in Brazil, the Senate is scheduled to vote on the decision to fund another $1.1 Billion to combat the virus. It seems the chemical industry is receiving a huge gift, at the expense of public health. Erin explains that the chemical companies and the American Mosquito Control Association need the huge hype and fear surrounding this virus to benefit. In that way, Congress will approve the horrible bill which will erode/pollute the Clean Water Act and even allow continued use of Naled and Malathion.
Free Mosquito Repellents
Some states have even begun to give free mosquito repellant. Pregnant women on Medicaid in Texas are allowed to be given free DEET mosquito repellent without prescription (33), and Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, offer free bug repellent to their visitors (34).
But, DEET has been proven to harm the nervous system and brain function, and it’s so poisonous that even EPA says you need to avoid breathing it, wash it off your skin when going indoors, and not spray it on your face. So, why give extremely toxic chemicals to pregnant women, instead of distributing them something safe?
Viable and safe alternatives to keep you away from mosquitos are neem-based products, geraniol and citronella oil, and products that contain 30% eucalyptus or lemon, or 20% picaridin. They have even been shown to be more efficient than DEET in tests. Although picaridin and lemon eucalyptus have possible side effects like eye or skin irritation, and shouldn’t be used on kids under the age of three, they are still much safer than DEET.
Safer Alternatives
While trying to protect public health, we are poisoning our world and ourselves. So, are we doing the right thing by using toxic chemicals to wage war against pests? Although some claim there’s no other option, there is.
There are safer and more natural options to protect against mosquitos than topical DEET and aerial insecticides, in the short term. But, what we need is the societal and political will to make necessary changes which means accepting ecologically sound, regenerative agriculture methods. If nature is in balance, pests will still exist, but they’ll be naturally controlled.
Although not as effective as potent toxins, they will prevent further health problems that will put our kids’ lives at risk. Again, the Zika hype is based on the likely flawed assumption that the public health authorities, CDC, and media are saying about it is true, just as they did with the Bird Flu Hoax. They hope they can repeat the same agenda with their once-successful fear-based tactic.
Via Dr. Mercola
