Controlling mosquitoes will also help to control diseases such as Eastern Western Encephalitis, West Nile Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, Heartworm and all diseases concurred by the mosquito which kill my patients as well as my clients.
The CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, reports the number of mosquito-born disease cases in this country is growing (April 18, 2008 A.P. Texas News). Fewer mosquitos mean less chance of new or old diseases occurring in our area. Wildebeest carry a virus that is an airborne disease found in Africa. This virus should be known only to Africa, but cases have been found in cows in Texas and Louisiana. So far this year the Wildebeest virus has killed two cows, one of which was in Louisiana. We do not want a new disease transmitted by mosquitoes in Iberia Parish.
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Chagas has been detected in dogs and people in Louisiana. In her research, Dr. Prixia D M Nieto, DVM from LSU, states that around 20% of dogs tested positive to the Chagas test. Blood banks for people in Baton Rouge had one confirmed case traced directly to the “Kissing Bug.” They currently run tests for Chagas on all blood before blood transfusions. The U.S. has at least 250,000 immigrants living in the U.S. who are Chagas positive. In our clinic alone, we have had 63 dogs test positive for the Chagas disease. I lost my own Labrador Retriever to the Chagas disease two days before duck season two years ago.
The above information is just a short example of why Iberia Parish needs the best mosquito control that our taxpayer money can afford. The 1⁄4-percent sales tax we pay goes directly for mosquito control. What money is left over is allocated for drainage.
Roger S. Boughton
Commissioner
Iberia Parish Mosquito Abatement District Board
New Iberia
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