‘Bug Busters' fight threat of West Nile virus in LouisianaBy Tara Smith
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A "Bug Buster" volunteer empties a bag of mosquito fish into an abandoned pool.
Steve Sackett, research entomologist and field superintendent for the New Orleans Mosquito Board, kneels next to a contaminated pool to check for larvae.
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NEW ORLEANS - With record breaking hot temperatures this summer, mosquitoes are on the prowl in New Orleans and breeding in the black, stagnant, waters left behind by Katrina in abandoned pools across the city.
And with the threat of an outbreak of mosquito-born diseases such as West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis, Operation Blessing is helping to protect residents by planting small mosquito-eating fish in the contaminated pools.
"It's a toxic stew," said Bill Horan, president of Operation Blessing. "Every one of these pools is like a mosquito factory."
Working side by side with members of the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Board since April, OBI has funded and placed thousands of fish in contaminated pools throughout the city.
"We will buy the fish and fund this operation to whatever extent is required. However many fish the New Orleans Mosquito Board needs, we'll buy them," Horan said.
The New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Board has inspected more than 4,000 pools, and stocked the abandoned ones with Gambusia. Steve Sackett, research entomologist and field superintendent for the New Orleans Mosquito Board, anticipates the project will be continued throughout the summer since new pools are being added to his list daily and some of the treated pools will need to be restocked.
“That number is going up significantly. More and more people are calling with additional pools. But we’ve got a pretty good handle on our swimming pools,” Sackett said.
Horan expressed concern about the potential threat of an outbreak of deadly mosquito-born viruses. "The population that is there is not going to have the good fortune of having screened-in porches. They will be in FEMA trailers and gutted houses . . . and much more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes," he stated.
Sackett said he is also concerned about a potential outbreak of the West Nile virus since one of the prime mosquito vectors of the disease has been spotted in these pools.
"We were very concerned if these pools went untreated because instead of killing mosquito larvae, we would be fighting adults," Sackett said. "We're getting info on new pools. In so many cases, a lot of the owners are in other states. So these pools could be in this situation for a long time. You definitely don't want to move back and have your neighbor breeding thousands of mosquitoes," he added.
Volunteers treat each pool with an average of 30 to 50 fish.
"We will buy the fish and fund this operation to whatever extent is required," said Bill Horan, President of Operation Blessing. "However many fish the New Orleans Mosquito Board needs, we'll buy them."
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Sackett also said the first human cases of West Nile virus usually occur in the beginning of June according to state records. Although no human cases have been documented yet, he said the state normally tests birds throughout the year for the virus. However, the state has delayed the testing this year due to Katrina recovery.
"When I looked at the magnitude of the problem, one, we didn't know if we had 2,000 or 10,000 pools. I knew we didn't have the staff or funding to accomplish this job. We do have a larvicide that we put in the pools and it will kill mosquito larvae. But it will only give us about six weeks of control. By placing fish in the pools, it gives you a permanent mosquito control situation," he said.
Sackett started turning to volunteer groups for help and was put in contact with Horan of OBI. "He was very excited about being able to help with this. He said, ‘I'll buy your fish and we'll get you some volunteers.' From the time I first talked to Bill to the time I put the first fish in the pool, it's been a really quick turn around."
In addition to overseeing the purchase and distribution of the mosquito fish, OBI continues to provide recovery to residents through house gutting, tree and debris removal, feeding kitchens and a free medical and dental clinic.
Operating out of their regional command center in Slidell, strategically located in proximity to the hardest hit areas, OBI transformed a 22,000 square-foot shopping center into a their base of operations where they store relief supplies for distribution; process hundreds of daily work orders; strategize recovery efforts with local government officials, FEMA and partnering agencies; and provide full accommodations to house and feed the hundreds of volunteers arriving weekly. The center has full time staff and accommodates as many as 335 volunteers per week.
How You Can Help
Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an
online donation today and help those affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes. For volunteer opportunities with
OBI in the Gulf Coast, click here.
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