March 31, 2003
It’s April and in Ontario not long before the return of the dreaded mosquito.
Politicians had another long Canadian winter in which to contemplate what to do about West Nile virus. As spring heads towards summer, politicians fresh back from March break, were still dickering.
Buzzing mosquitoes do not take leave of Canada when frost sets in. According to experts who track them, the long-legged pests merely wait out winter among the miles of available underground sewer pipes.
Last summer American victims of the mosquito-borne disease dominated the news. But mosquitoes have never shown much respect when it comes to stopping at the Canadian border. The virus is not strictly American. It’s no secret that a bird found in Windsor-Essex County confirmed West Nile was present in Canada as far back as August of 2001.
Environmentalists worry aloud that anxiety about West Nile virus will lead to the use of mosquito-killing chemicals more dangerous than the virus itself.
They argue that the virus has no harmful effect on most people, only the elderly and that Canadians will become resistant to it in time. They claim that in this case the antidote is worse than the poison and send out press releases charging that the proposed chemical combatant, malathion has too many risks and harmful effects.
The Province of Ontario says it will allow municipalities to kill mosquitoes that spread the virus. Unfortunately it is at the municipal level of government where Canadian environmental activists hold the tightest grip.
Having seen the human risk of the West Nile virus in the United States and in Ontario, other provinces are now talking about spraying.
"To respond in this kind of sledgehammer way, I think it’s still probably way out of proportion," scientist and broadcaster David Suzuki told Canadian Press.
A sledgehammer is in order when one looks at the toll of Canadian death to West Nile virus. Last summer alone, there were more than 300 confirmed or probable human cases of the virus in Canada. Nine people who were known to have the virus died, although not all those deaths were attributed to West Nile.
According to CP, "ecologist David Schindler of the University of Alberta said there are well documented scientific concerns about malathion.
"While it is advertised as one of the most harmless of organophoshate pesticides, it has caused birth defects, mutagenic and teratogenic effects, brain damage, childhood leukemia, disruption of endocrine functions."
Chris Krepski, a spokesman for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, part of Health Canada, said malathion is safe if used according to instructions.
"It’s got a good record of safe use for these sort of programs," he said.
Other environmentalists argue that DEET-based sprays are bad for the environment and want a ban on its use.
Then add to this mix that in order for the public to be completely safe against West Nile virus, a coordinated effort is required by all levels of government.
Summer is coming and politicians are still in a dither about what to do about the sometimes-deadly virus.
As long as environmentalists claim the use of mosquito-killing chemicals is more dangerous than the virus itself, politicians will continue to dicker.