There are model cities around the country that we can learn from. They have effectively managed mosquitoes and the diseases they carry (including West Nile virus) without spraying. The public must force the Health Department to be better advocates for our health.

Health Department officials told us repeatedly in the spring of 2004, "We will spray this year." This was before they knew anything about what the mosquitoes were up to! In our opinion, this mind-set is left over from 30 years of being nuisance mosquito control sprayers. This kind of thinking shows, they have not made the real leap to IPM yet.

In contrast, safer, more progressive mosquito control programs in cities (like Washington, DC, Fort Worth, TX and 8 counties near Metro Atlanta) are clear that spraying is a last resort for emergencies. Since they have put these methods in place they have never had to resort to spraying. Their attitude is that they will do everything possible to avoid spraying. This makes a HUGE difference.

In 2003 and 2004, the MPHD said they used positive mosquito pools as an indicator of when they would begin spraying. (These tests are also known for having false positives.) They frequently referred to their program as "West Nile spraying". Yet, they sprayed all four zones of the county in 2004 when they found 4 positive mosquito pools in SE Nashville and 1 in East Nashville. They frequently ignored sites that tested positive for West Nile virus in 2003 & 2004 and sprayed other areas first. Sometimes they NEVER SPRAYED those sites!

A safer and more responsible moquito control program would find the breeding sites for the mosquitoes and treat them in order to stop the problem. Some cities do this with part-time summer helpers who go door-to-door. At our urging, the Health Department hired two part-time seasonal workers. Cities the size of Nashville need about 10 full-time people. Now, you know why they have to spray. They have not put their resources into the number of staff they need.

Safer, more progressive mosquito control programs weigh the benefits and risks before spraying. (Note: Our Health Department has not even bothered to find out what risk/benefit ratio is! This is not a good sign.) These cities would spray only as a last resort in an emergency and it would be a short-term solution. A solution that would take place only in the area experiencing the emergency and the immediate surrounding area. Meanwhile, they would continue to search for the breeding sites to get the situation under control. This IS IPM!

THE GOOD NEWS!!!
Public outcry and pressure from some local politicians DID help a little this year. (The exposure of their haphazard spraying for the last 2 years probably helped too.)

After two and a half years of stonewalling almost every issue of concern, the Health Department finally DID respond with some change in July of 2005. The State Entomologist worked with the Metro Health Department so that there has been definite improvement in their protocol.

They also have a truck driving in front of the spray truck to try to warn people and one driving behind them (we'd sure hate to be that person). We believe the convoy is helping right now because in 2003 and 2004 drivers were spraying people in plain view of the trucks. Some of these people had some serious problems. This is less likely to happen with a convoy but they still have a ways further to go with notification and protections. We can't help but wonder about a Health Department that elects to pay two extra people (overtime probably) to help spray rather than hire enough summer helpers to beef up their source reduction to try to avoid spraying.

Unfortunately, in June 2006 the Health Department began spraying this year a full two months earlier than ever before. Their actions show us a new posturing to spray more. They say they tried the other methods and they didn't work. There is no way they could do their inadequate number of staff. We need your help! Opt out! Speak out!

	1. Risks: West Nile versus Anvil 2+2
	2. Who is at Risk for Adverse Effects from Anvil 2+2?
	3. Standard precautions
	Why other cities have chosen not to spray
	Non-toxic, effective ways to get mosquitoes to quit bugging you
	Upcoming Events and Who to Contact to Complain
	Great links for more information
	INCIDENT REPORT (if you have had any adverse effects, click here!)
	COMPLAINT FORM (if trucks spray people outside or other complaints)
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