United Press International - July 28, 2000

BOSTON, July 28 (UPI) -- Health officials sprayed pesticides in parts of Boston into the early morning hours Friday in an attempt to prevent the spread of the fatal West Nile virus from mosquitoes to humans.

      More widespread spraying was possible, officials said Friday.

      The virus, which can be spread to humans by mosquitoes that feed on birds infected with the disease, migrated into Massachusetts from New York where it killed seven people last year.

      A dead crow found in Boston last weekend was the first evidence the virus had spread to Boston. Health officials on Thursday confirmed a second dead crow found in the western suburb of Hopkinton also had the virus. Dozens of other dead birds are now being tested, including one found early Friday at the Hatch Shell along the Charles River in Boston.

      The state Department of Public Health said it expected the problem to spread statewide.

      "This is not unexpected," spokeswoman Roseanne Pawelec said. "After finding West Nile virus in Massachusetts, we fully expected to find it elsewhere in the state."

      Preliminary tests on mosquitoes trapped in the Willow Pond and Jamaica Pond areas of Boston were negative for the virus, officials announced Thursday. The results of more sophisticated tests were expected Friday.

      Late Thursday night, crews began spraying the pesticide Resmethrin from trucks in Boston's Franklin Park, at the Hatch Shell and in the area of the pond where the first dead bird was found. The spraying operation wrapped up at 6 a.m.

      Spraying was also being considered in Hopkinton, where an anti-spraying sentiment prevented the town from joining a regional spraying program several years ago.

      Health officials said even more extensive spraying might be necessary because recent rains could create breeding grounds for millions of mosquitoes over the next two weeks.

      Officials sought to calm residents concerned over possible health problems due to the spraying, and advised people to stay indoors for at least an hour after the pesticide is sprayed.

      Resmethrin, effective in killing adult mosquitoes, is also known to cause nausea and dizziness in humans in high doses.

      Matt Wilson of Toxic Action Center, which deals with public health concerns, said in Friday's Boston Globe that while the spraying is obviously needed to deal with the spread of the virus, "in so doing we don't want to create a whole new public health problem by exposing residents to these pesticides."

      Dr. Alfred DeMaria Jr., head of the state Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, said that most people who get West Nile virus "don't have much in the way of severe symptoms, but we are doing all this (spraying) to prevent severe disease in a small number of people."

      As of Friday, no humans were reported to have been infected in Massachusetts, although a 12-year-old girl admitted to Children's Hospital in Boston displayed some symptoms common with the virus as well as other possible illnesses.

      Officials said humans can be infected when bitten by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. The virus cannot be spread to humans by birds, or passed from one human to another.

      Mild symptoms include fever, headache and body aches, while in more serious cases symptoms can also include neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma and tremors. Those most at risk are elderly people and young children, and people with weakened immune systems.

      The best protection is to avoid being outdoors during the evening and morning hours when mosquitoes are most active, and to wear long pants and long-sleeves when outdoors, officials said. They also advise using a mosquito repellent.

      The West Nile virus was first found in Uganda in 1937 and spread from there to Europe and Asia. It was first found in the United States last year in New York. Since then it has spread to New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut.

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