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Council Minutes of October 18, 1944 <br />Mrs. Bahas commented that several years ago her son had contracted St. Louis <br />Encephalitis. At that tip, the Board of Health told her that spraying of the city was not a <br />cure-all. Residents should use mosquito repellent, should be careful of the hours chi~ren <br />play outdoors and should monitor what type of clothing their are wearh-g. Mrs. <br />Bahas expressed concern about too much insecticide in the spraying. Mr. Alm agreed <br />that those were good points. He said there are many things that residents can do to help <br />themselves and the Board of Head does provide educational material as part of their on- <br />going program He noted that mosquitoes only breed in areas of ~aa ' water. O~.en <br />man-made containers such as tires and buckets are breeding areas. s ~oukl be <br />careful to eliminate these breeding areas in their own yards. With regard to the chemical <br />question, the county monitors its program and co~ues to use some of the safest <br />pesticides available without sacrificing effediv~ess. They are continually trying to knock <br />down the mosquito populatiom and reduce the potential for encephalitis. However, they <br />cannot eliminate every n~squito. <br />Mr. Nashar asked what the response time would be if a person called on a Monday to <br />request spraying. Mr. Ally said they moray very well be there within that had day. They <br />have a staff of six summer co$ege teclnucans that are trainal and reg~ered to disperse <br />pesticides. He said most of their time was spent eliu~ating larvae. About 709% of their <br />program is spent trying to he~i pule eli~ate wading water sources; 30% of the <br />program is involved with Might time spraying. The ~rayi~g program operates from May <br />through September, and residents can reach the department by caking 443-7500. <br />Mr. Musial asked if they will definitely come out and spray upon the request of an <br />individual Mr. Allen said. that they would come out and assess the situation to determine <br />whether there is a need for spraying. <br />Mr. McKay asked if there was a periodic timetable for spraying. Mr. Allen said that ram, <br />temperature and the availability of breeding sites were the deciding factors of whether <br />spraying would be done. Mr. McKay said he had read a report that stated the mosquitoes <br />carrying encephalitis were found in the rotten parts of trees. Mr. Allen confirn~d that the <br />mosquito spreading the LaCrosse Encephalitis was called the Tree-hole Mosquito which <br />does breed in cracks and crevices of trees as well as man-made containers. Homeowners <br />can eliminate breeding sources in their own yards by tarring up tree holes and eliminating <br />man-made breeding sites. <br />Mr. Lind asked if the Board of Heahh had captured live mosquitoes to test. Mr. Allen <br />said they did not capture live mosquitoes because the State does not have the capability to <br />handle that situation. Upon an mhial notification of a potential case, they wdl respond and <br />treat the areas of standing water and also do night spraying to knock down the adult <br />mosquito population. <br />Cindy Sutton, Summerland Avenue, whose daughter had the confirmed case of LaCrosse <br />Encephalitis, asked what areas were treated. Mr. Allen said they came out in early <br />September before it had been determined that the case was encephalitis and treated areas <br />6 <br />i <br />_ ,- <br />